Directorate Change

Compass Group PLC
24 March 2006



                  Compass Group PLC Appoints New Chief Executive


Compass Group plc today announces that Richard Cousins is to succeed Michael
Bailey as Executive Director of the company and its new Chief Executive. He will
join the Board on 2nd May and become Chief Executive Officer on 1st June 2006.

Mr. Cousins has been, until recently, the Chief Executive Officer of BPB plc
prior to its takeover by St. Gobain. Previously, he was president of Westroc,
BPB's Canadian operation and has worked with the group since 1990 in a number of
different roles.

Sir Roy Gardner, Senior Independent Non-Executive Director and Chairman
designate of Compass said 'The Board is very pleased to have appointed Richard,
who will bring to the organisation a valuable combination of senior operational
management of a global enterprise, business transformation skills and a proven
record of creating shareholder value.'

Mr Cousins said 'I am delighted to be appointed Chief Executive of such a strong
business and look forward to working with the Board and the management team to
improve the performance of the business, further clarify the strategy and
deliver value to shareholders'.

Sir Roy also paid tribute to Michael Bailey and thanked him for his efforts over
the last 13 years. 'Michael has been generous with his time and effort,
particularly when the business was passing through difficult and unchartered
waters during the last 18 months. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank
him for his dedication during this challenging period'.

Enquiries: 

Compass Group PLC

Investors/Analysts: Andy Martin                           [phone]
Media:              Paul Kelly                            [phone]

Notes to Editors


Richard is 46 years old, is married with two children and lives in the UK. He
was educated at the University of Sheffield where he graduated with a BSc in
Mathematics. He read his Masters degree at Lancaster University in Operational
Research prior to beginning his working career in operational research with
Cadbury Schweppes plc. From here he moved to BTR plc where he spent the next 6
years working in supply chain management and corporate planning.

In 1990 he joined the BPB Group where he worked in Corporate Planning and
Business Development becoming Group Financial Controller in 1992. In 1995 he
broadened his experience by becoming General Manager and subsequently Managing
Director of some of the Group's packaging activities. In 1998 he moved to Canada
and ultimately became Chief Executive of BPB plc in 2000.

From 2000 to 2005 Richard developed the group's strategy particularly in the US
where two major acquisitions gave the company a strong number 3 position in the
plasterboard market. Acquisitions were also made in western and eastern Europe,
Egypt, Mexico and India.

In parallel, Richard focused on a number of restructuring programmes in Europe
and North America leading to cost reductions of some £100m.

Richard left the business after it was sold to St. Gobain in December 2005. 

Richard's salary at Compass will be £750,000 p.a.



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange