Directorate Change

Centrica PLC
                  

Centrica plc announces appointment of new Chairman after 2004 AGM

Centrica plc announced today that Sir Michael Perry GBE has decided to retire as
Chairman with effect from the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting on 10 May
2004. By then he will have reached the age of 70, which is the normal retirement
age for non-executive directors of the Company.

Sir Michael has been Chairman since 1997 and has led the Company during a period
of sustained growth, outperforming the FTSE 100 index and seeing the market
capitalisation rise from £3.3 billion to £8.4 billion.

The Centrica Board, on the recommendation of its Nominations Committee, has
decided to appoint Roger Carr as Chairman. He has been a non-executive director
of Centrica since January 2001 and Chairman of the Audit Committee since January
2002. Mr Carr is also the non-executive Chairman of Mitchells & Butlers plc and
Deputy Chairman of Cadbury Schweppes plc. He has previously held a number of
senior appointments including Chief Executive of Williams plc, Chairman of Chubb
plc and Chairman of Thames Water plc.

Sir Michael said: 'I am very pleased to be handing over Chairmanship to someone
as experienced as Roger Carr. I have enjoyed my tenure enormously and it has
been very pleasing to see Centrica go from strength to strength over the past
six years. I know that Roger will provide strong leadership and wise counsel to
the Board as Centrica continues to make progress over the coming years.'

Roger Carr said: 'I am delighted and privileged to be asked to take over the
Chairmanship of Centrica. I shall inherit from Sir Michael a strong business, an
excellent management team and a solid platform for further growth.'

Further information:

Centrica Investor Relations 01753 494900

Centrica Media Relations 01753 494085