Equity Office Appoints Two Trustees to Board

    Business Editors

    CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 2, 2005--Equity Office Properties Trust (NYSE:EOP) announced today that the size of its board has increased to 12 with the addition of two new trustees. Stephen I. Sadove, vice chairman and chief operating officer of Saks Incorporated, and Sally Susman, executive vice president, Global Communications, at The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., joined Equity Office's Board of Trustees, effective February 25, 2005.
    "Steve has extensive operations and board experience, and Sally brings us a wide range of communications and governmental affairs expertise," commented Sam Zell, Equity Office's Chairman. "They are both welcome additions to our board."
    Each of the new trustees has been determined to be independent under New York Stock Exchange rules and Equity Office's trust governance guidelines. As such, Mr. Sadove and Ms. Susman are eligible to serve on Equity Office's independent board committees, although such decisions are not expected to be made until the board meets in May 2005.
    Mr. Sadove, 53, has nearly 30 years of operating management and leadership experience. In his role at Saks Incorporated, he is responsible for overseeing the department store chain's strategic and operating plans, and for establishing and cultivating product brand extensions and new business opportunities. He also serves on the company's Board of Directors.
    Previously, Mr. Sadove was senior vice president of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, where he led the $4.95 billion sale of Clairol to Procter & Gamble. During his tenure at the company, he also served as president of Worldwide Beauty Care and Nutritionals; and president of Worldwide Clairol, where he was responsible for the company's performance in Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
    In addition to his board seat at Saks Incorporated, Mr. Sadove holds board positions with a number of other organizations, including: Hazelden New York, Hamilton College, Ruby Tuesday Inc., National Retail Federation and A Better Chance. He is also on the executive committee of Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, and on the advisory board of Sterling Capital Partners. Mr. Sadove holds a master's degree from Harvard Business School, and a bachelor's degree from Hamilton College.
    Ms. Susman, 43, has international communications and marketing expertise, as well as experience with governmental affairs and public policy. At The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., she directs the global communications strategies for all of the company's brands. She is responsible for media relations, employee communications and consumer relations.
    Previously, Ms. Susman held several high-level communications and governmental relations positions at American Express Company. During a decade of intensive growth and high visibility at the company, she directed media relations, internal communications and governmental affairs for American Express' international operations.
    Also during her career, Ms. Susman spent eight years in government service with a focus on international trade issues. She held several positions with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
    She currently serves as a commissioner on the New York City Commission on Women's Issues and is on several boards, including: Parsons School of Design, The National Partnership for Women and Families, and Gina Gibney Dance. She is also a trustee of Connecticut College, from which she holds a bachelor's degree.
    Equity Office Equity Office Properties Trust (NYSE:EOP), operating through its various subsidiaries and affiliates, is the nation's largest publicly held office building owner and manager with a portfolio of 696 buildings comprising 125.3 million square feet in 18 states and the District of Columbia. Equity Office has an ownership presence in 27 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and in 123 submarkets, enabling it to provide a wide range of office solutions for local, regional and national customers. For more company information visit the Equity Office Web site at http://www.equityoffice.com.

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CONTACT: Equity Office (Investors/Analysts): Beth Coronelli, 312-466-3286 or Equity Office (Media): Terry Holt, 312-466-3102

KEYWORD: ILLINOIS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: REAL ESTATE BUILDING/CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CHANGES SOURCE: Equity Office Properties Trust

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