Sir John Egan Appointed

Inchcape PLC
10 May 2000


Sir John Egan has been appointed non-executive Chairman of Inchcape plc, the
international automotive services group, with effect from 15 June 2000, it was
announced today at the Company's Annual General Meeting.  He succeeds Lord
Marshall of Knightsbridge, who, as his term of office has come to an end, is
stepping down as Chairman and resigning from the Board on June 15.

Sir John, 60, is non-executive Chairman of property investment company MEPC
and was formerly Chief Executive of BAA from 1990 to 1999.  He also has more
than 20 years' experience in the automotive sector, and was Chairman and Chief
Executive of Jaguar plc prior to joining BAA.

Lord Marshall, 66, joined the Inchcape Board in November 1995 and was
appointed non-executive Chairman on 1 January 1996.  He led Inchcape through
its recent restructuring from a diverse distribution company into a pure
automotive group.

Announcing Sir John's appointment as Inchcape Chairman, Lord Marshall said:
'Sir John is joining Inchcape at a time of continuing change and development,
both for the Company and for the industry in which we operate.  It is a
challenging time, but also, I believe, a time of great opportunity for
Inchcape.  Sir John's experience in the automotive industry and, more
recently, his success in transforming BAA into a leading customer services
organisation will be enormously helpful to the Group as we continue our
strategic drive into more direct customer-facing businesses.

'We are building a customer-focused business that is highly responsive to the
changing nature of the automotive environment, and are seeking new
opportunities to drive the Group forward.  E-commerce is redefining the whole
area of customer relationship management, and Inchcape is already establishing
itself as a market leader within this exciting new medium. 

'Within our key markets, we are focusing on developing sustainable, scale
businesses, continually assessing the performance and longer-term potential of
all our operations with a view to expanding, especially into retail, or
exiting businesses that neither fit our strategy nor meet our financial
hurdles.
 
'Under the leadership of Group Chief Executive Peter Johnson, Inchcape has
strong management at the helm with considerable experience of the automotive
industry.  The appointment of Sir John Egan as Chairman will further
strengthen the management team as the Group seeks to consolidate its position
as an industry leader.'

Regarding current year trading, Inchcape's Group Chief Executive, Peter
Johnson, told shareholders: 'We are on track to meet our expectations for the
year as a whole.'  He added: 'Asia is performing strongly and we believe that
South American markets are turning the corner on the way to recovery.  In
Continental Europe, we are seeing good performances, especially from our
Toyota businesses, but in certain markets are experiencing margin pressure as
a result of the weak euro.  The UK remains challenging, and will continue to
be so until the market fully adjusts to the changes outlined in the
Competition Commission report.'

Commenting on the report, Mr Johnson said: 'We welcome any measures that
improve competition, therefore maximising consumer choice and value.  This is
very much in line with our customer-focused strategy, whereby we aim to offer
our customers greater choice both in the products and services we offer and
the channel of delivery - whether it be through traditional dealerships or
online through our e-commerce business, Autobytel.'

Inchcape is the world's largest independent automotive distribution group,
operating in more than 20 international markets and representing many of the
world's leading car manufacturers.  The Group's activities include import and
distribution; retail of new and used cars; automotive e-commerce; and
financial services, including consumer and dealer finance, insurance and
leasing.

Notes to editors: 
Biographies of Sir John Egan and Lord Marshall are attached.

To obtain an electronic copy of the photograph accompanying this release,
please visit the Inchcape website at www.inchcape.com or contact the Group
Communications Department on 020 7546 8259.

The text contained in this announcement includes extracts from addresses to
shareholders at today's Annual General Meeting, which was held at The
Conference Forum, The Marsh Centre, London.  

Issued by and enquiries to Inchcape plc:                     
Group Communications Director
Stephen Clark                     020 7546 8250 
Head of Investor Relations                            
Bridget Gander                    020 7546 8394


LORD MARSHALL OF KNIGHTSBRIDGE

Chairman - Inchcape plc

Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge was appointed Chairman of Inchcape on 1 January
1996 after joining the Inchcape board as a non-executive director in November
1995.

Lord Marshall is also Chairman of British Airways Plc, having been appointed
in February 1993 after ten years with the Airline, initially as Chief
Executive, then as Deputy Chairman & Chief Executive, prior to which he had a
distinguished career in international business.

In 1958, after seven years with the Orient Steam Navigation Company, Lord
Marshall joined the Hertz Corporation in Chicago as a Management Trainee. 
After a term as General Manager, Mexico, and Assistant to the President in New
York, he became General Manager UK, Netherlands and Belgium in 1961.

In 1964 he joined Avis Inc. as Regional Manager/Vice President Europe.  After
progressively assuming responsibility for all areas of the world excluding the
Western Hemisphere, he moved to New York in 1971 as Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer.  He became President in 1975, and Chief Executive
Officer in 1976.

Following the takeover of Avis, in 1979 he was appointed Executive Vice
President of Norton Simon Inc. and Co-Chairman of Avis.  He returned to the
United Kingdom in 1981 as Deputy Chief Executive of Sears Holdings plc. He
joined British Airways two years later.

Lord Marshall is Chairman of Invensys plc, Deputy Chairman of British
Telecommunications plc and is also a non-executive Director of HSBC Holdings
plc and a Board member of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Lord Marshall is currently a member of the CBI's President's Committee of the
Confederation of British Industry, having been President from May 1996 to July
1998.  He is Chairman of Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham
House), Chairman of Britain in Europe; Chairman of the London Development
Partnership; Board member of the Financial Reporting Council and Vice
President of The Marketing Council; Member of the British American Business
Council International Advisory Board; Member of the Hong Kong Association; a
Council Member of the Institute of Directors; a Trustee of the Royal Air Force
Museum and President of the Commonwealth Exchange Council. 

Lord Marshall was created a Life Peer in the Queen's Birthday Honours in June
1998, having been made a Knight Bachelor in 1987.  He is 66, and married with
one daughter.     

May 2000


SIR JOHN EGAN

Sir John Egan will take up the position of non-executive Chairman of Inchcape
plc on 15 June 2000.

Sir John was born in 1939, is married to Julia and has two daughters, Katy and
Lydia.  He was educated at Bablake School, Coventry and London University
where he graduated in Petroleum Engineering.  From 1962-66 he was employed by
Shell International as a Petroleum Engineer.  From 1966-68 he studied at the
London Business School and obtained an MSc in Business Studies.

In 1968 he became General Manager of AC Delco's UK replacement parts
operation, part of General Motors.  He then joined British Leyland in 1971 and
his initial period with that company culminated in his appointment as Director
of BL Parts and Service.  In this role he was responsible for the rapid
development of the very successful Unipart operation.

Sir John left British Leyland in 1976 to become Marketing Director of Massey
Ferguson's construction and machinery division based in Rome. He subsequently
was promoted to Corporate Parts Director.

Sir John rejoined British Leyland as Chairman of Jaguar Cars in May 1980 and
when that company was privatised in August 1984 he remained as Chairman and
Chief Executive of Jaguar Cars Limited, later becoming Chief Executive and
Managing Director of Jaguar plc and subsequently, in March 1985, Chairman and
Chief Executive of Jaguar plc.

After the takeover by Ford, Sir John retired from Jaguar plc and was appointed
to the Board of Directors of BAA plc on 15 June 1990, taking up the position
of Chief Executive of BAA plc on 1 September 1990 which he held until 1
October 1999.

He was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in June 1986.  He is
Chairman of MEPC plc, President of the London Tourist Board, Chairman of the
Central London Partnership and Deputy Chairman of London First.  He is an
Executive Committee Member of the World Travel and Tourism Council, Vice
President of the Marketing Council, a Member of the Council of the Institute
of Directors, Chairman of The Centre for Tomorrow's Company and President
Elect of the Institute of Management.

Sir John's interests are sport, theatre, opera and music.     

May 2000