DELRAY BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2006--Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, today announced the arrival of Yalmaz Siddiqui as Environmental Strategy Advisor. He will report to Stephen Sauls, Vice President of Corporate Relations.

Siddiqui will be responsible for further developing Office Depot's environmental strategy and integrating its wide-ranging environmental initiatives into the organization. Office Depot's industry-leading environmental programs span all parts of the company -- from the supply chain, to internal operations, to business and consumer markets.

Siddiqui's role will include increasing understanding of environmental issues and opportunities among suppliers, customers, and associates. He will help improve the environmental performance of Office Depot and its range of stakeholders.

"Yalmaz's role at Office Depot reinforces our commitment to superior environmental performance," said Steve Odland, Chairman and CEO of Office Depot. "He comes to us with a very market-oriented view of environmental issues, and will help us deliver the most comprehensive and customer-focused environmental program in the office products industry."

Odland also noted that Siddiqui will now oversee Office Depot's five-year, $2.2 million Forest & Biodiversity Conservation Alliance that is in the process of developing critical information, standards and tools for global forest and biodiversity conservation. The Alliance is Office Depot's collaboration with NatureServe, Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy, three of the world's most respected science-driven conservation organizations.

"Office Depot's support for the Alliance is just one example of the Company's deep commitment to the environment," Siddiqui said. "I am proud to be associated with an organization that has not only blazed the trail in the past, but continues to deliver innovative environmental solutions for customers and other stakeholders."

Siddiqui joins Office Depot from IBM Business Consulting in Toronto where he was a Senior Consultant in Customer Relationship Management, and author of the first global study on the environmental purchasing of wood and paper products. Before joining IBM, Siddiqui was a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he focused on the forest, paper and packaging industries.

He holds a Master's Degree in Environment & Development from Cambridge University in England, and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Marketing & International Business from McGill University in Canada.

Office Depot and the Environment

Office Depot's environmental strategy focuses on delivering sustainable value to our shareholders and other stakeholders through transparency, accountability and responsiveness. Key initiatives center on sustainable forest management, recycling, energy efficiency, and growing markets for green products. In 2005, the company issued its second Green Book catalog of environmentally friendly products -- the only office products catalog printed on elemental chlorine-free, 100 percent Post-Consumer recycled paper.

In recognition of its environmental stewardship, Office Depot received the "Outstanding Retailer" Award by the International Council of Shopping Centers and Environmental Protection Agency as well as the European Office Products "Environmental Responsibility" Award. In addition, the company was again named to the FTSE4Good Index, which assesses companies' practices based on socially responsible investment principles.

About Office Depot

With annual sales of over $14 billion, Office Depot provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company. Incorporated in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida, Office Depot conducts business in 22 countries and employs 47,000 people worldwide. The Company operates under the Office Depot(R), Viking Office Products(R), and Viking Direct(R) brand names.

Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel - from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. With over $3.8 billion of sales, the Company is one of the world's largest e-commerce retailers. As of December 31, 2005, Office Depot had 1,047 retail stores in North America. Internationally, the Company conducts wholly-owned operations in 14 countries, and operates retail stores under joint venture and license arrangements in another six countries.

The company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index.

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Copyright Business Wire 2006

Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company. Incorporated in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., Office Depot has annual sales of nearly $15 billion, and employs approximately 50,000 associates around the world. Currently, the Company sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 42 countries. Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel -- from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. Office Depot serves a wide range of customers through a dedicated sales force, telephone account managers, direct mail offerings, and multiple web sites.

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