Directorate Change

Diageo PLC
19 February 2004

                   JONATHAN SYMONDS TO JOIN THE DIAGEO BOARD


Diageo plc announced today the appointment of Jonathan Symonds, Chief Financial
Officer of AstraZeneca PLC, to the Diageo board, effective 1 May 2004.


His appointment brings to seven the number of Diageo's independent non-executive
directors. He will be appointed to the Audit Committee, Remuneration Committee
and Nomination Committee and it is intended that upon Keith Oates' retirement at
the conclusion of Diageo's Annual General Meeting on 20 October 2004, he will be
appointed chairman of the Audit Committee.


Commenting on the appointment, Lord Blyth said:


'I am delighted to welcome Jonathan to the Diageo Board. He brings a different
perspective to our boardroom and we are very much looking forward to working
with him.'

                                    -ends -

Diageo media enquiries to:

Isabelle Thomas [phone] [e-mail]

Diageo investor relations enquiries to

Catherine James [phone] [e-mail]


AstraZeneca media enquiries to:

Steve Brown, [phone] - [e-mail]


Notes to Editor:

1. Diageo's chairman is James Blyth. Other non-executive members are: Rodney
Chase (Senior Independent Director and chairman of the Remuneration Committee),
Maria Lilja, Keith Oates (chairman of the Audit Committee), Lord Hollick, Paul
Walker and William Shanahan. Executive members of the board are Paul Walsh
(CEO), Nick Rose (CFO).


2. Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business. With its global
vision, and local marketing focus, Diageo brings to consumers an outstanding
collection of beverage alcohol brands across the spirits, wine and beer
categories including Smirnoff, Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Baileys, J&B, Cuervo,
Captain Morgan and Tanqueray, and


                                      -2-


Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines. Diageo trades in some 180
countries around the world and is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange
(DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo,
its people, brands and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com



3. AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. It is
active worldwide, with sales in over 100 countries, manufacturing in 20 and
major research centres in 5 and has over 58,000 employees worldwide and a market
capitalisation of some £45bn.





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