Directorate Change

Wolseley PLC
16 December 2005


                                  Wolseley plc

Board change - appointment of Frank Roach as Chief Executive North America


Wolseley plc, the world's largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and
heating products and a leading supplier of building materials to professional
contractors, announces that Mr Frank Roach has today been appointed as a
Director of the Company. Mr Roach will be responsible for the Group's North
American operations with immediate effect and in succession to Chip Hornsby, who
will succeed Charlie Banks as Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 August
2006.


Frank Roach, aged 54, is an American citizen. He joined Ferguson, Wolseley's US
plumbing and heating business, in 1976. During his time with Ferguson he
undertook a number of operational roles, including branch manager in Richmond,
Virginia and vice president of the US mid-Atlantic region. In 2005 he was
appointed as senior vice president of the recently created Wolseley North
America management team with responsibility for North American business groups.
In this role he has played a key part in further developing and expanding the
Group's North American businesses including plumbing, waterworks and HVAC
(heating, ventilation and air conditioning).


Charlie Banks, Chief Executive Officer of Wolseley said 'I am delighted with
Frank's appointment. Frank has made a significant impact on Ferguson's and, more
recently, the Group's, success in North America over the past 30 years and I am
sure he will bring all of that experience to bear in his new role.'


John Whybrow, Chairman of Wolseley said 'I am delighted that we are able to make
another senior appointment from within the organisation and I look forward to
Frank's contribution to the deliberations of our Board.  This appointment is an
integral step in Chip Hornsby's succession as Chief Executive Officer of the
Group and will, from early in the New Year, allow Chip the opportunity to spend
more time in Europe gaining a deeper understanding of our businesses and, in due
course, our investor relations activities.'


There are no matters relating to Mr Roach which would require disclosure under
Listing Rule 9.6.13.


Further information:


Wolseley plc                                       0118 929 8700

Guy Stainer
Head of Investor Relations

Penny Studholme
Director of Corporate Communications

Mark White
Group Company Secretary & Counsel


Brunswick

Andrew Fenwick                                     020 7404 5959


Notes to Editors

Wolseley plc is the world's largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and
heating products and a leading supplier of building materials to professional
contractors in North America, the UK and Continental Europe. Group sales for the
year ended 31 July 2005 were approximately £11.3 billion and operating profit,
before goodwill, was £721 million. Wolseley has around 60,000 employees
operating in 14 countries namely: UK, USA, France, Canada, Ireland, Italy, The
Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Belgium, Luxembourg
and Denmark.  Wolseley is listed on the London and New York Stock Exchanges
(LSE: WOS.L, NYSE: WOS) and is in the FTSE 100 index of listed companies.



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