Appointment

IQE PLC
2 February 2001


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         2 FEBRUARY 2001


IQE plc

                            APPOINTMENT OF NEW CFO

IQE plc the leading global supplier of outsource epi-wafer services to the
Compound Semiconductor Industry is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr
Richard Clarke, BSc, FCA, MBA, as CFO with effect from 08 March 2001.

Mr Clarke, 45, joins IQE from Singapore based Avimo Group Ltd where he was
Group Finance Director. During the last 5 years, Mr Clarke has been
responsible for the financial management and control for the group which
specialises in optic and electro-optic systems and has operations in the UK,
USA, Germany, Hungary, Singapore, Egypt and Australia. He has overseen a
number of successful acquisitions during this period which has seen turnover
rise from £36M to £85M and post tax profit from £2.4M to £8M. The Avimo Group,
which is listed on the Stock Exchange of Singapore, is currently the subject
of a takeover bid by Thales (formerly Thomson CSF).

Mr Clarke qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young in 1980 and
has over 20 years senior level management experience, the majority of which
has been within high technology manufacturing environments including senior
positions within both Dowty Group plc and Dowty Aerospace.

On joining IQE plc, Mr Clarke will be based at the Group's international
headquarters in Cardiff, UK. He will be supported by Mr Leslie Coventry (VP
Finance and FD, IQE Europe Ltd), Mr Duane Good (FD, IQE Inc) and Mr John Kemp
(FM WaferTech International Ltd).

Dr Drew Nelson, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IQE plc said:

'We are delighted to welcome Richard to the team.  He joins us at a key
juncture as we are poised to reap the benefits from our major expansion
program that has been implemented over the last year.'


For further information contact :
IQE plc

Drew Nelson                                  Tel :[phone]

Buchanan Communications
Tim Thompson / Nicola Cronk                  Tel : [phone]


Notes to Editors:

IQE plc (LSE: IQEP.L) is the leading outsource supplier of advanced
epi-wafers to the Compound Semiconductor Industry with manufacturing
operations in Cardiff and Milton Keynes, UK and Bethlehem, PA, USA. It's wafer
products are used by a diverse range of customers worldwide to manufacture the
critical, advanced components used in fibre optic communications systems,
wireless and mobile telephony applications, optical storage devices such as
CD, DVD, Minidisc and a range of other leading edge technologies such as High
Brightness LED displays, medical devices, satellite systems and automotive
applications. The group has expanded to over 400 people world-wide and demand
for the company's products continues to show increasing growth.