Appointment

Wolseley PLC
13 September 2001


                                 NEWS RELEASE

                              13 September 2001


                            Corporate Appointment

                     Director of Corporate Communications


Wolseley announced today that Jacqueline Sinclair-Brown has been appointed
Director of Corporate Communications with immediate effect. This appointment
follows two other senior executive appointments at the Wolseley corporate
level announced on 9 August.

Jacqueline was formerly Head of Corporate Communications at Blue Circle
Industries PLC and led the communications team during the successful defence
of Blue Circle against Lafarge's hostile bid in the first half of 2000 and
subsequent agreed takeover in January 2001. Jacqueline has over 15 years'
experience in corporate communications at an international level.

Charles Banks, Group Chief Executive, said,

'Jacqueline's appointment comes at an exciting time for Wolseley as we expand
our corporate communications activities to ensure that Wolseley's outstanding
track record and strong growth potential are more widely understood.
Jacqueline's knowledge of our industry is a particular bonus.'



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                                  ENQUIRIES:

                    Charles Banks - Group Chief Executive

                    Steve Webster - Group Finance Director

                    Wolseley plc - Telephone [phone]

                        Tom Wyatt - Financial Dynamics

                           Telephone [phone]

                               www.wolseley.com