ServiceMaster's Hess Retires from Board of Directors

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. - The ServiceMaster Co. announced today that Herbert P. Hess will retire from the Board of Directors in June 2004. His decision to retire is in anticipation of his upcoming marriage to fellow board member, Betty Jane Scheihing.

Hess joined the Board as director in 1981. He has served as a member of the Executive Committee since 1985 and Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committee since 2001. Succeeding him as Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committee will be Roberto R. Herencia, a director since 2003.

"Herb is a tireless business leader dedicated to advancing the interests of our shareholders and employees," said Jonathan Ward, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "His insights always reflect the ServiceMaster values and his commitment to long term growth have contributed greatly to the success of the Board and our company."

With a BME from Cornell University and an MBA from Boston University, Hess began his career in production management at Procter & Gamble. In 1965, Herb joined State Street Research & Management Company in Boston, and, over the next twenty-five years, he held positions of security analyst, director of research, portfolio manager, vice-chairman of the investment committee, chairman of the mutual fund company, and president and chief executive of State Street Research & Management.

Hess was Managing Director of Berents & Hess Capital Management, an investment management firm, from 1991 to 2001. He currently serves as Chairman of the North American Management Corporation, also an investment management firm.

Roberto R. Herencia, is president of Banco Popular North America. He is also Executive Vice President, Head of North America Operations and a member of the Senior Management Council of Popular, Inc., the parent company of Banco Popular North America.

ServiceMaster currently provides outsourcing services for more than 10.5 million residential and commercial customers. These services are provided through a network of over 5,400 company-owned and franchised service centers and business units operating under leading brands which include Terminix, TruGreen ChemLawn, TruGreen LandCare, American Residential Services, Rescue Rooter, American Mechanical Services, ServiceMaster Clean, American Home Shield, AmeriSpec, Merry Maids and Furniture Medic.