Apr 7, 2004
Bernard E. Kury to Join Guidant as Vice President and General Counsel

Indianapolis, Ind. - Guidant Corporation (NYSE: GDT) today announced that Bernard E. Kury will join Guidant as vice president and general counsel, effective April 12. Kury will report to Ronald W. Dollens, Guidant president and CEO, and will serve as a member of the Guidant Management Committee. In his new role, Kury will serve as a key advisor to Guidant''s CEO and senior management on strategic business and legal issues and will continue to build Guidant''s legal capabilities worldwide.

"I am extremely pleased that an individual of Bernard''s caliber and capability is joining Guidant in this critical role," said Dollens. "During his distinguished career as a partner in the law firm of Dewey Ballantine, Bernard has worked closely with Guidant on many important milestones in our history. He brings a depth and breadth, gained through 35 years of legal experience, to the role of vice president and general counsel that we will draw upon as we continue to navigate increasingly complex business issues. We look forward to his contributions and counsel."

Kury''s long-standing relationship with Guidant and its predecessor companies spans more than 20 years. He served as lead counsel on Guidant''s initial public offering in December 1994, and its spin off from Eli Lilly and Company in 1995. In addition, Kury was lead counsel on numerous Guidant acquisitions.

Kury was a partner in Dewey Ballantine, LLP, a New York-based law firm, where he focused on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and securities matters. Kury is a member of the American Bar Association, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and the New York State Bar Association. He is included in the 1996 Guide to the World''s Leading Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyers, and is a contributing editor of The Encyclopedia of Venture Capital.

Kury holds an A.B. degree from Princeton University and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he served as Case Editor of the school''s Law Review.

Kury succeeds Debra Minott, who has been named to the newly created position of corporate secretary and chief governance officer.

Guidant Corporation is a world leader in the treatment of cardiac and vascular disease. The company pioneers lifesaving technology, giving an opportunity for better life today to millions of cardiac and vascular patients worldwide. Driven by a strong entrepreneurial culture of 12,000 employees, Guidant develops, manufactures and markets a broad array of products and services that enable less invasive care for some of life''s most threatening medical conditions. For more information visit www.guidant.com.