Appointment of Chief Executive

10th December, 2002

                        THE MORGAN CRUCIBLE COMPANY plc                        

                        APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE                         

The Morgan Crucible Company plc has today appointed Warren D Knowlton as a
director of the Company. He will become Chief Executive Officer on 6th January
2003.

Mr Knowlton who is an American citizen was previously with Pilkington plc. He
joined Pilkington in May 1997 as head of the newly created Building Products
Worldwide business and immediately restructured the European sector which
accounted for about 60 percent of the global turnover. After profitability was
restored he was appointed Chief Executive of Pilkington Automotive and
Aerospace Worldwide where he carried out a major rationalisation programme.

Prior to joining Pilkington Mr Knowlton had a successful career with Owens
Corning, which he joined in 1977 as a Divisional Cost Analyst. He then became
Supervisor of Financial Projects, Plant Controller and Plant Manager. He
progressed to Vice President Finance and Business Planning of Roofing Products,
Vice President Sales of the Industrial Materials Group, and then Vice President
Manufacturing of the Construction Products Group. In late 1993 he was appointed
President of Building Materials Europe and Africa, where he built a successful
multi-national team.

He has lived in the UK, Belgium and the USA and is a member of the Ohio Bar
Association. He has a BSc from the College of William & Mary, Virginia, an MBA
from the University of Utah, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of
Toledo. He became a non-executive director of Smith & Nephew plc. in 2000 and
chairman of their audit committee in 2001.

Mr Knowlton, who is married, and currently lives in the U.S.A. will be
relocating again to the UK on taking up his position.

Dr Bruce Farmer: 'We are delighted to be appointing Warren Knowlton as Chief
Executive Officer. His enormous experience of managing technology based
manufacturing businesses and his international background will be a great
benefit to the Group.'

Mr Warren Knowlton: 'Morgan has great breadth and depth of technology and has
leading market positions with many of its products. I look forward to leading
the team and building value for shareholders.'

Enquiries:

Dr Bruce Farmer (CBE), Chairman                            01753 837204        
                                                                               
Jon Coles, Brunswick                                       020 7404 5959       
                                                                               
Harry Chathli, Brunswick