Board Appointments

ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                              Board Appointments                               

Ashtead Group plc is pleased to announce that Christopher Cole who has been
serving as interim non-executive Chairman of the Group since 27 October 2006
has been appointed as the Group's permanent non-executive Chairman.

Mr Cole, Chief Executive of WSP Group plc has been a director of the Ashtead
Group since January 2002.

Hugh Etheridge has been appointed as senior independent non-executive director.

Mr Etheridge has been a director of the Ashtead Group since January 2004.

Michael Burrow has been appointed as a non-executive director of the Group.

Mr Burrow was formerly Managing Director of the Investment Banking Group of
Lehman Brothers Europe Limited.

The Company confirms that there are no other disclosures required under the
Listing Rules in respect of Michael Burrow.

All of the above appointments were effective from 1st March 2007.


For further information contact:-

Chris Cole          Chairman                                020 7314 5121      
Geoff Drabble       Chief executive                         01372 362 300       
                                                                               
Brian Hudspith      The Maitland Consultancy                020 7379 5151