Directorate Change

8 December 2008

                                FIRSTGROUP PLC                                 

                BOARD DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND APPOINTMENT                

With effect from 5 January 2009 Dean Finch, currently carrying out a temporary
assignment as Chief Operating Officer - North America, will assume the role of
Group Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for our UK Bus and North
America businesses initially. Dean has spent the past 12 months leading all
aspects of the integration of the Laidlaw acquisition and the delivery of the
synergies from our enlarged North American business.

Nicola Shaw, who is currently Managing Director UK Bus, will join the Board on
5 January 2009 as Director responsible for Bus in the UK, Ireland and Germany.
Nicola joined the Group in 2005 and has made a significant contribution to the
successful growth and development of our UK Bus division.

Commenting, Sir Moir Lockhead, Chief Executive said: "I would like to
congratulate Dean on his appointment as Group Chief Operating Officer. For the
past 12 months Dean has been based in the US where he has successfully
accomplished the integration of the Laidlaw operations, delivered the
substantial synergies from the combined businesses and paved the way for the
future development of our North American businesses.

"I would also like to welcome Nicola to the Board. As Managing Director UK Bus
Nicola led the focus on service quality and operational performance to improve
services for passengers, together with delivering more efficient working
practices to underpin the strong growth achieved by the division.

"This is an exciting time in the development of the Group. We have established
market leadership positions in the UK and North America and achieved record
performance across all of our businesses. These Board changes will further
strengthen the Group and ensure that we are well placed to continue to deliver
our strategy to provide safe, reliable, innovative and sustainable services and
profitable growth in our core markets."

Contacts FirstGroup plc:

Rachael Borthwick

Group Corporate Communications Director 07771 945432 / 0207 291 0508

Notes to Editors:

Dean Finch was appointed to the Board as Commercial Director in February 2004
and subsequently appointed Finance Director later that year. In August 2007 he
assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer - North America. He joined the
Company in 1999 as Commercial Director of the Rail Division and was
subsequently appointed Managing Director of the Rail Division in August 2001.
He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG where he worked for 12 years
specialising in Corporate Transaction Support Services including working for
the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising on the privatisation of train
operating companies. Age 42.

Nicola Shaw joined the Group in May 2005 as Managing Director UK Bus. She
joined the Group from the Strategic Rail Authority where she was Managing
Director of Operations. Nicola's career in the public transport sector, both in
the UK and overseas, has included roles at the Office of the Rail Regulator,
Bechtel, Halcrow, the World Bank and London Transport. Age 39.