Appointment

Diagonal PLC
22 January 2001


                                 DIAGONAL PLC
                                                               22 January, 2001

                       NEW MAIN BOARD DIRECTOR APPOINTED


Diagonal PLC is delighted to announce that David Thompson has been appointed to
the Board as an Executive Director with immediate effect. David, aged 49, has
led the Secure Networks Division since October 2000.

This Division, which now employs 55 people and has a turnover of £25m, was
formed recently by bringing together three recent acquisitions. It now provides
to a range of blue chip clients all aspects of their requirements for network
security. David joined Diagonal with the purchase of Eurostar Network Systems,
one of these acquisitions. He has been heavily involved with the I.T. networks
industry for over 10 years.

Graham Creswick, Chief Executive of Diagonal PLC, said,

' David's appointment is well deserved and reflects the importance to Diagonal
of the new Secure Networks Division. Already the Group's fastest growing and
most profitable division, the Secure Networks business clearly represents a key
element in Diagonal's future'.


Enquiries:

Graham Creswick, Chief Executive                    Tel: [phone]


Ian Seaton, Citigate Dewe Rogerson                  Tel: [phone]