Directorate Change

Wolseley PLC
15 April 2002


                                  NEWS RELEASE
                                 15 April 2002

                                  Wolseley plc
                                 Board Changes

Wolseley plc announces that Richard Ireland, the group's Non-Executive Chairman,
will retire from the Board after the company's Annual General Meeting on 13
December 2002. The Board proposes to elect John Whybrow as Non-Executive
Chairman on Richard Ireland's retirement. He is currently a Non-Executive
Director of the company, and was appointed Deputy Chairman on 12 April 2002.
John Whybrow, 55, was President and Chief Executive of Philips Lighting Holding
B.V. from 1995 to 2001 and Executive Vice President, Philips Electronics, from
1998 to March 2002 when he returned to the UK.

The company also announces that David Tucker, 62, a Non-Executive Director since
1990, retired from the Board on 12 April 2002.  He is replaced by Jim Murray,
55, formally Finance Director of Land Securities Plc, until his retirement last
year.  Jim Murray joined the Board on 12 April 2002.

Richard Ireland, Chairman, said:

'I believe the Annual General Meeting in December is the right time to stand
down from Wolseley and I am pleased that John Whybrow has agreed to succeed me.
John has made a valuable contribution to the Board since he joined over four
years ago and I believe he is the right man to lead the Board, particularly
given his wide international experience. I am pleased to be leaving Wolseley
with such a strong foundation for further growth and am delighted with the way
that Charles Banks and his executive team are continuing to develop the
business.

'The Board also wishes to place on record its sincere thanks to David Tucker for
his contribution over the last 12 years and we wish him every success for the
future. We are delighted to welcome Jim Murray as a new Non-Executive Director
and look forward to working with him.'

John Whybrow, Deputy Chairman and Chairman elect, said:

'The Board of Wolseley would like to thank Richard for his enormous contribution
to the group over the last 44 years during which time we have seen the group
progress to become the major international building materials, plumbing &
heating distributor it is today.  Through his role, originally as Finance
Director from 1975 to 1994 working alongside Jeremy Lancaster and then as Group
Chairman since 1996, Richard has been instrumental in the growth of Wolseley and
the strategic move of expanding the business into the US & subsequently bringing
focus to the Company. I am looking forward to taking up the role of
Non-Executive Chairman and continuing to be a part of Wolseley's future growth.'


                                    - Ends-

Enquiries:

Wolseley plc

Richard Ireland                      Tel: [phone]
Jacqueline Sinclair-Brown

Brunswick Group Ltd

Andrew Fenwick                       Tel: [phone]
Sophie Fitton


Notes to Editors:


John Whybrow (55)

An engineer by training with a subsequent MBA, John has a wide business
experience gained during a long and varied career. He joined Philips in 1970 and
held a number of senior executive positions until leaving to join TDS Circuits
PLC as Managing Director in 1988. He returned to Philips in 1990 becoming
Chairman and Managing Director of Philips Electronics UK Ltd from 1993 to 1995.
During this period John was also Chairman of PDO Discs, and Deputy Chairman of
Teletext Holdings Ltd. He left the UK to become the President & CEO of Philips
Lighting Holding (1995) based in Holland, joining the Philips main Board in 1998
taking additional responsibilities of Philips Medical Systems & Domestic
Appliance Businesses worldwide. John left Philips to return to the UK in April
2002.


Jim Murray (55)

Jim qualified as a chartered accountant at Price Waterhouse, where he spent 12
years.  Whilst there, he gained wide experience in a variety of industries
before joining Land Securities in 1981 as Assistant Director Finance. He was
appointed as a Director of Land Securities Properties in 1987 and in 1991 was
made Finance Director of Land Securities Plc.  Jim retired from Land Securities
Plc at the end of June 2001.


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