8-K

                                  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): October 17, 2007

                                  TENNECO INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)




           Delaware                       1-12387                 76-0515284
(State or other jurisdiction of         (Commission          (I.R.S. Employer of
 incorporation or organization)         File Number)            Incorporation
                                                             Identification No.)


        500 NORTH FIELD DRIVE, LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS               60045
          (Address of Principal Executive Offices)               (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (847) 482-5000



Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
     (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))




ITEM 5.02   DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS;
            APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF
            CERTAIN OFFICERS

         On October 17, 2007, Tenneco Inc. announced that it has changed the
size of its Board of Directors to nine members and that Dennis J. Letham has
been elected to the company's Board of Directors by action of the Board of
Directors on that date. The Board of Directors also appointed Mr. Letham to be a
member of the Audit Committee of the company's Board of Directors, effective
immediately. Consistent with past practice, Mr. Letham received a grant of 747
shares of restricted stock, representing a pro rata portion of the annual grant
of 3,500 shares of restricted stock granted to each of the other outside
directors in January 2007. Mr. Letham will also receive the pro rata portion of
the annual retainer fee paid to outside directors for 2007. Mr. Letham's
election is described in the company's press release, dated October 17, 2007,
which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.01   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.        Description
- -----------        -----------

99.1               Press release issued October 17, 2007




                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.


                                         TENNECO INC.


Date:  October 18, 2007                  By:  /s/ David A. Wardell
                                              -------------------------------
                                              David A. Wardell
                                              Senior Vice President, General
                                              Counsel and Corporate Secretary

EX-99.1

NEWS RELEASE                                                      [TENNECO LOGO]

Contacts:     Jane Ostrander                  Leslie Hunziker
              Media Relations                 Investor Relations
              847 482-5607                    847 482-5042
              jostrander@tenneco.com          lhunziker@tenneco.com


              TENNECO ELECTS DENNIS J. LETHAM TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lake Forest, Illinois, October 17, 2007 -- Tenneco (NYSE: TEN) announced today
that Dennis J. Letham has been elected to the company's board of directors,
effective immediately. Dennis Letham is executive vice president, finance and
chief financial officer of Anixter International Inc., a $5.5 billion global
distributor of communications products, wire & cable products, fasteners and
other small components for original equipment manufacturers.

"We are pleased to add Dennis Letham to our board with his extensive financial
background and global business experience," said Gregg Sherrill, chairman and
CEO, Tenneco. "We look forward to his contributions as we accelerate our growth
globally and capitalize on opportunities to enhance shareholder value."

Dennis Letham has more than 17 years experience as a chief financial officer and
for the past 12 years, has overseen all of Anixter International's finance,
accounting, tax and internal audit activities in the 49 countries in which the
company operates.

Prior to assuming his role as chief financial officer in 1995, Mr. Letham served
as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Anixter, Inc., the
principal operating subsidiary of Anixter International Inc. He joined Anixter
International in 1993. Previously, he had a ten-year career with National
Intergroup Inc., where he held a number of senior financial management positions
including senior vice president and chief financial officer.


Tenneco is a $4.7 billion manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake
Forest, Illinois and approximately 19,000 employees worldwide. Tenneco is one of
the world's largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of emission control
and ride control products and systems for the automotive original equipment
market and the aftermarket. Tenneco markets its products principally under the
Monroe(R), Walker(R), Gillet(TM) and Clevite(R)Elastomer brand names.

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