Appointment of Group Chief Executive

GREAT UNIVERSAL STORES PLC
28 October 1999

                     APPOINTMENT OF GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE

The Great Universal Stores P.L.C. ('GUS') today announces the appointment of
John Peace as Group Chief Executive.

John Peace, aged 50, is currently chief executive of Experian, the Group's
Information Services Division.  He will take up his new role in January 2000.

John began his commercial career with GUS in 1970.  In 1980 he became one of
the founding directors of CCN, the trading company formed by GUS to market
information services to other retailers and lending organisations.

In 1996, John helped lead the successful negotiations to merge CCN with the
former TRW Information Systems & Services, one of the largest information
providers in the United States.  In November of that year he was appointed
chief executive of the new holding company, Experian.

Lord Wolfson of Sunningdale, Chairman of GUS, commented:

'As I shall be sixty four this year, we have been addressing the issue of
succession planning.   I am delighted that John is to become Group Chief
Executive.  The appointment reflects his considerable managerial talents, and
his wide contribution to the recent development of the Group.'

John Peace commented:

'The opportunities open to GUS in its catalogue retailing and information
services businesses are enormous and I look forward to working closely with my
colleagues in the businesses to maximise the Group's potential and its value
to shareholders.'



Enquiries:

Lord Wolfson of Sunningdale   The Great Universal Stores P.L.C.  0171 495 0070
John Peace

Rupert Younger                Finsbury                           0171 251 3801
Timothy Grey