Edwin Negron-Carballo Named Senior Vice President of Finance for Sodexho USA School Services

GAITHERSBURG, MD July 18, 2005 - Sodexho USA, (NYSE: SDX) the leading provider of food and facility management services, announced today that Edwin Negron-Carballo has been named senior vice president of finance for Sodexho USA's School Services Division. He will be responsible for directing overall financial operations for this division. Negron will report directly to Rod Bond, president of Sodexho School Services.

Prior to coming to Sodexho, Negron was director of international finance and operations at Tyco Healthcare's Latin America Division. Negron was also the country general manager for the Puerto Rico Division of Edgcomb Metals Company, where he oversaw start-up operations, business development, customer base development and profitability. Negron's experience also includes positions at other well known consumer goods companies such as Frito Lay and Energizer. He also has significant experience in public accounting that includes tenure with Big Four accounting firm K.P.M.G. - Peat Marwick.

Negron, bilingual in English and Spanish, is a current member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Puerto Rico CPA Society and was previously an active member of The Institute of Internal Auditors, Institute of Management Accountants and the National Society of Public Accountants. He was also an accounting instructor at the University of Phoenix San Juan campus.

“We are fortunate to have Edwin join our team,” said Bond. “His extensive experience in the area of finance, accounting and operations will help identify key issues and opportunities for us in School Services.”

Negron holds a bachelor of science in accounting from Louisiana State University and a masters of business administration from Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis. He has been a certified public accountant for more than 15 years.

Sodexho USA (www.sodexhoUSA.com) is the leading provider of food and facilities management in the United States, with $6 billion in annual revenue and 120,000+ employees. Sodexho USA offers innovative outsourcing solutions in food service, housekeeping, grounds keeping, plant operations and maintenance, asset management, and laundry services to more than 6,000 corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, military and remote sites in North America. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD, Sodexho USA proudly serves as the official food service provider for the US Marine Corps.