Change to Board of Directors

Wolseley PLC
22 June 2000


The Company wishes to announce that John Young, Chief Executive, 55, has
decided to take early retirement.  This follows a back operation that John
underwent earlier this year.

Richard Ireland, Non-executive Chairman, will assume with immediate effect the
role of executive Chairman pending the appointment of a new Chief Executive
and John Young will continue as a consultant in this interim period.

Since John Young joined the Board in 1982, the Group has grown from sales of
£220m and profit of £11m for the year to July 1982 to sales in excess of £5bn
and profits of £300m for the financial year ended 31 July 1999.

Richard Ireland said 'we are sorry that John's ongoing back condition makes it
difficult for him to complete the heavy travel schedule necessary in his
position, and that he is to step down.  We thank him for taking the Group
successfully forward in the last four years and wish him all the best for the
future.'


                           For further information:                           
                                                                              
                                                                              
                       Richard Ireland - Group Chairman                       
                                                                              
                    Wolseley plc - Telephone [phone]                     
                                                                              
                                                                              
                        Tony Knox - Financial Dynamics                        
                                                                              
                           Telephone [phone]