Exhibit 99



                    IKON NAMES MATTHEW J. ESPE PRESIDENT AND
                             CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
    Espe, Former President and CEO of GE Lighting, Brings Proven Track Record
                 of Building Revenue and Profitability Through
               Distribution, Sales and Marketing on a Global Scale

    Smooth Transition Expected with James J. Forese Remaining as Chairman of
                 IKON's Board of Directors Through February 2003


Valley Forge, Pennsylvania - August 29, 2002 - IKON Office Solutions (NYSE:IKN),
a leading provider of business communications solutions, today announced that
Matthew J. Espe has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr.
Espe was most recently President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Lighting, a
$3 billion business with 35,000 employees and 55 manufacturing facilities across
North America and around the world. He brings to his new position at IKON more
than 20 years experience in distribution, sales and marketing and a proven track
record for building and leading businesses on a global scale, while increasing
revenue and profitability. As indicated in the Company's plan for a smooth
transition to new leadership, previously announced in March 2002, James J.
Forese will remain as Chairman of the Board of Directors until the Company's
next annual meeting in February 2003.

Richard A. Jalkut, Lead Independent Director of IKON's Board, said, "We are very
pleased to have an executive of Matthew Espe's caliber to lead IKON. The Board
of Directors was determined to find a disciplined and talented executive with
the proven skills and right experience to move this Company to the next level.
We also wanted to choose a person of integrity who would be dedicated to the
highest principles of corporate governance. After an executive search that was
comprehensive both internally and externally, we decided that Matthew Espe was
the best qualified candidate to become President and CEO of IKON. As a rising
star at one of the most successful companies in America today, Matt has proven
again and again, at a variety of GE business units, that he has an outstanding
ability to build and lead great businesses. His experience working with Japanese
suppliers will be especially helpful to IKON's relationships with our important
vendors, including Canon and Ricoh. We believe his combination of innovative
planning and broad operational experience in global distribution businesses can
provide the impetus IKON needs to increase revenue and profitability and build
sustained growth for the future. Matt has created real, measurable value
everywhere he has worked. We fully expect that he will build lasting value for
all constituents of IKON as well. Matt has a firm base on which to build, thanks
to the hard work and strategic vision Jim Forese has contributed to this
business over the last four years."




Mr. Espe said, "I am excited to have the opportunity to join the
highly-energized IKON team. IKON has worked long and hard to successfully
integrate its businesses and build a strong foundation for a promising future,
and I believe it's time now to realize that promise, build shareholder value and
make IKON the undisputed leader in its industry. This Company has strong
fundamentals, a solid balance sheet and the right structure for the current
competitive environment. I intend to keep the Company focused on new
technologies and market opportunities, to continue to improve IKON's
customer-centered business model and to maintain the consistency of IKON's
strategic direction and solid execution. We will move forward quickly with no
loss of the momentum this business has built so strongly over the last few
years."

Mr. Forese stated, "For six months, we have moved steadily and methodically to
find the ideal person to take the helm of IKON, following the plan we put in
place to ensure a smooth transition to new leadership of the Company. Our goal
was to maintain continuity and stability in the great progress we have made.
Matthew Espe has broad operational experience and an exceptional background in
successful marketing and sales in global distribution businesses, similar to
IKON's operations and business model. He is customer-focused and adept at
introducing and building on new products and services. His success in increasing
revenue and controlling costs while growing a variety of different businesses
fits precisely with IKON's strategy of establishing sustained growth for this
Company. I am very pleased to welcome Matt to IKON and look forward to working
closely with him over the next few months."

Mr. Espe, 43, began his career with GE in 1980 and rose steadily through the
ranks of general management at the company both in domestic and international
operations. In 1994, he was given full responsibility for a GE Plastics venture
in the Netherlands. Over the next five years, he held increasingly important
leadership posts for this GE business unit in Europe and Asia, as he built a
reputation for improving productivity, increasing revenues and focusing sharply
on customer service. In 1999, Mr. Espe was appointed President of GE Plastics
Europe and charged with fully integrating this $2 billion business. In May 2000,
Espe returned to the U.S. to take the position of President and CEO of GE
Lighting. He has begun the transformation of GE's oldest business by improving
global interaction of manufacturing, technology and sourcing within the company.
He has improved service rates at key accounts, improved product mix and reduced
costs.

Espe received his undergraduate degree from the University of Idaho and while
working at GE went on to earn an MBA from Whittier College in 1984. He is
married and has four children.

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IKON Office Solutions is one of the world's leading providers of products and
services that help businesses communicate. IKON provides customers with total
business solutions for every office, production and outsourcing need, including
copiers and printers, color solutions, distributed printing, facilities
management, imaging and legal document solutions, as well as network design and
consulting, and e-business development. IOS Capital, LLC, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of IKON, provides lease financing to customers and is one of the
largest captive finance companies in North America. With Fiscal 2001 revenues of
$5.3 billion, IKON has approximately 600 locations worldwide including the
United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland and
Denmark.

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