Michael de Kare-Silver on Brd

GREAT UNIVERSAL STORES PLC
18 October 1999
                                       

                    GUS APPOINTS GROUP E-COMMERCE DIRECTOR

The  Great  Universal Stores P.L.C. is pleased to announce the appointment  of
Michael   de  Kare-Silver  to  its  Board.   Mr  de  Kare-Silver   will   have
responsibility for the Group's
e-commerce strategy at board level.

In this role, Mr de Kare-Silver will:

* advise and assist each of GUS' divisions in advancing their own e-commerce
  strategies

* look  for new opportunities to establish profitable e-commerce activities,
  using  GUS'  considerable resources such as databases, logistics,           
  merchandise and brands

Lord Wolfson, chairman of GUS, said:

'GUS is well placed to take advantage of the considerable growth potential  in
e-commerce  and we are delighted to welcome Michael to the Board.   He  brings
skills  to  the  business that will enable us to develop and  broaden  our  
e-commerce activities.'


Enquires:

The Great Universal Stores P.L.C.                               0171 495 0070
Lord Wolfson of Sunningdale, Chairman
David Tyler, Finance Director

Finsbury                                                        0171 251 3801
Rupert Younger
Timothy Grey


Notes to editors:

Mr de Kare-Silver, aged 43, joins GUS from the Kalchas Consulting Group, which
he  founded  in  1988 and which he developed into a widely based international
management   consultancy  before  its  recent  sale   to   Computer   Sciences
Corporation.  He has been particularly involved in e-business development  and
in 1998 wrote 'e-Shock',  a best selling book which examines the opportunities
for  business in  the  digital age.  Prior to 1988, he worked as a consultant
with McKinsey, spent  four years with Procter & Gamble and qualified as a
commercial  lawyer, practising with Slaughter and May.