UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                             ----------------------


                                    FORM 8-K



                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934






         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) 23 April 2002
                                                          -------------


                        Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
                ------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


        Delaware                        1-4534                  23-1274455
   ----------------------------  ------------------------  --------------------
   (State of other jurisdiction  (Commission file number)  ( IRS Identification
      of incorporation)                                          number)


    7201 Hamilton Boulevard, Allentown, Pennsylvania           18195-1501
  ---------------------------------------------------        -------------
        (Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)

    Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (610) 481-4911
                                                        --------------








Item 5. Other Events.
--------------------

                       AIR PRODUCTS APPOINTS JOHN OWINGS
                   VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                   ------------------------------------------

                     CFO Leo Daley to Retire in Summer 2002
            Marshall Sullivan Appointed Vice President and Treasurer

LEHIGH VALLEY,  Pa. (April 23, 2002) - Air Products and Chemicals,  Inc.  (NYSE:
APD) today  announced  that John R. Owings has been appointed vice president and
chief financial officer (CFO),  effective May 20, 2002,  succeeding Leo J. Daley
who will retire this summer after a 23-year career with Air Products. Mr. Owings
will be  responsible  for all aspects of the  worldwide  financial  organization
including treasury, investor relations, controllership and audit. He will report
to John P. Jones, chairman and CEO.

Mr. Owings joins Air Products from Motorola,  Inc.  where he recently  served as
senior  vice  president  and  director  of finance  for the  company's  Personal
Communications Sector. The Personal  Communications Sector is the world's second
largest cellular handset manufacturer with 2001 sales of $10.4 billion.

"John brings to Air Products an extensive knowledge of the electronics industry,
strong   financial  and   operational   skills,   plus  broad   experience  with
international  business  in all  regions of the  world,"  said Mr.  Jones.  "The
outstanding  leadership he has  demonstrated in his assignments at Motorola will
be a tremendous asset to our organization."

Since  joining  Motorola in 1973,  Mr.  Owings has served in roles of increasing
responsibility  as  director  of  finance  for five major  Motorola  businesses,
including  the Personal  Communications  Sector;  Motorola's  Network  Solutions
Sector and Satellite Communications Group; the Radiotelephone Systems Group; the
Motorola Computer Group; and the Integrated Electronics Systems Sector.

Mr. Owings graduated from Northern Illinois University (N.I.U.) in DeKalb, Ill.,
earning both his B.S.  degree in accounting in 1971 and an M.B.A.  in finance in
1976.

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Air  Products  also  announced  the  appointment  of  Marshall  Sullivan as vice
president and corporate  treasurer for the company.  Mr.  Sullivan has served as
corporate treasurer since 1998. He will report to Mr. Owings.

Mr.  Sullivan  joined Air  Products in 1971 as a  participant  in the  company's
Career  Development  Program.  He  progressed  through  a  series  of  operating
controllership  assignments  leading to the  position of Process  Systems  Group
controller  in  1982.  In  1990  he  was  appointed   assistant  treasurer  with
responsibility  for corporate  finance and financial  planning and analysis.  He
assumed additional  responsibilities for pension and savings plan investments in
1993 and treasury operations in 1994.

Mr.  Sullivan  received a B.S.  degree in mechanical  engineering  from Carnegie
Mellon University in 1965 and an M.B.A. from Cornell University in 1971. He is a
member of the National  Association  of Corporate  Treasurers  and the Financial
Executives Institute.

Air  Products  and  Chemicals,  Inc.  (www.airproducts.com)  is the world's only
combined  gases and  chemicals  company.  Founded  more than 60 years  ago,  the
business has annual revenues of $5.7 billion and operations in 30 countries. Air
Products is a market leader in the global  electronics  and chemical  processing
industries,  and a longstanding innovator in many industrial markets,  including
coatings, adhesives and polyurethanes.  The company distinguishes itself through
its 18,000  employees  around the world,  who build lasting  relationships  with
their customers and communities based on understanding, integrity and passion.

        #                         #                          #


     Media Inquiries:
     ----------------
           Beth K. Mentesana, tel: (610) 481-2459; e-mail: mentesbk@apci.com
                                                           -----------------

     Investor Inquiries:
     -------------------
           Alexander W. Masetti, tel: (610) 481-7461; e-mail: masettaw@apci.com
                                                              ------------------

Photos of John R. Owings and Marshall Sullivan are available at
www.airproducts.com/
pressroom/restricted/bios/highrespics/OwingsJohn_informal.jpg
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and
www.airproducts.com/
pressroom/restricted/bios/highrespics/SullivanM_informal.jpg,
------------------------------------------------------------
respectively.




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                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.




                                  Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
                               ---------------------------------------
                               (Registrant)




Dated: 23 April 2002       By:           /s/Paul E. Huck
                               ---------------------------------------
                                         Paul E. Huck
                               Vice President and Corporate Controller
                                      (Chief Accounting Officer)


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