US Management Appointments

Ashtead Group PLC
06 July 2004

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

                    BOARD AND US MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENTS

Ashtead Group plc announces the appointment, with immediate effect, of Cliff
Miller as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sunbelt Rentals.  Cliff will
also join the Ashtead Group plc Board.

Since August last year, Cliff Miller has been one of the two Executive Vice
Presidents - Operations responsible for approximately half of Sunbelt's front
line operations and prior to that was the Vice President responsible for
Sunbelt's North Eastern region since 1997.  He joined Sunbelt on its acquisition
of McLean Rentals in 1996, having joined McLean in 1982.  Cliff Miller is aged
40.

At the same time, Brendan Horgan, currently the second Executive Vice President
- Operations is promoted to Chief Operating Officer of Sunbelt Rentals.  Before
promotion last August, he was Vice President responsible for Sunbelt's South
Eastern region .

Cob Stenham, Ashtead's non-executive chairman commented

'Cliff Miller's appointment today as a director of the Company and as chief
executive of Sunbelt re-establishes Sunbelt's direct participation on the board.
It will also allow George Burnett the Group chief executive, who has also been
acting CEO in the United States, to return to the UK.  I am pleased to be able
to congratulate Cliff on his appointment and we look forward to his
participation in future board discussion.'


Contacts:  Cob Stenham             Non-executive Chairman         020 7299 5562
           George Burnett          Chief Executive                01372 362300

           David Trenchard  )      Tulchan                        020 7353 4200
           William Davidson )      Communications


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