Chairman's Stmt/Directorate

Electrocomponents PLC
21 July 2000


                            ELECTROCOMPONENTS PLC                             
                                                                              
TRADING UPDATE

Electrocomponents plc held its Annual General Meeting earlier today.  Mr Roy
Cotterill, the Chairman stated: 'The sales trend referred to in my statement
in the Annual Report has been maintained though we continue to be cautious
about the UK manufacturing sector.  We also continue to be delighted by our
strategic initiatives, namely Japan, e-Commerce, Peoples Republic of China and
Allied in the USA.'

BOARD CHANGES

Jeff Hewitt, Group Finance Director, will be appointed Deputy Chairman.  In
addition to his present responsibilities, he will also take on Group
Information Systems and all Legal and Company Secretarial matters.

Mr Hewitt joined the Company as Group Finance Director in November 1996.

By the nature of its business, Electrocomponents is structured with operating
companies in each territory that it serves supported by Groupwide processes. 
This structure enables the Group to deliver world class service to its
customers, wherever they may be, in an effective manner.

Recognising the exciting prospects and increasing size and complexity of the
business, your Board now believes that this structure should be supported by
two new Executive Director appointments.

Ian Mason, currently a member of the Group Executive Committee, will become a
Director and will assume the position of Chief Operating Officer.  He will be
responsible for all of the RS trading activities including the continuing
development of e-Commerce.

Mr Mason joined the Company in February 1995 from the Boston Consulting Group.
 
Richard Butler, also a member of the Group Executive Committee, will become a
Director and assume the position of Chief Process Officer.  His
responsibilities will include Group Human Resources, Media Publishing, Supply
Chain, Product Management and Facilities.

Mr Butler joined the Company in August 1987 from Bowthorpe Holdings plc.

Electrocomponents plc is also pleased to announce that Dr Leslie Atkinson and
Mr Tim Barker have greed to join the Board as Non-Executive Directors.

Dr Atkinson had a distinguished international career with BP and, latterly as
a Director of Tarmac.  At BP he was Chairman of BP Asia Pacific, based in
Singapore.  Whilst there, he was a member of the Council of the National
University of Singapore.  Previously he was a member of the UK Government's
Central Policy Review Staff (the 'think tank') for two years.  Dr Atkinson has
also been the Vice President of the Chamber of Shipping and has served on the
Board of the Securities and Futures Authority in London.  He now  holds a
number of other Non-Executive Directorships which include AEA Technology plc
and Foreign and Colonial Pacific Investment Trust plc.

Mr Barker was a Vice Chairman of Dresdner Kleinwort Benson (and previously
Kleinwort Benson Group plc) from 1993 until he retired from the firm earlier
this year and was previously head of the Corporate Finance Division.  He was
seconded for two years in the mid-1980's to be Director General of the City
Panel on Takeovers and Mergers.  He is Non Executive Chairman of Kleinwort
Benson Private Bank and Non Executive Director of Robert Walters plc.

Both Dr Atkinson and Mr Barker will be invited to join the Audit, Remuneration
and Nomination Committees of the Company.

All new appointments to the Board will take effect from the conclusion of the
Annual General Meeting.

21 July 2000

Enquiries:-

Roy Cotterill, Chairman         Electrocomponents PLC          01865 204000

Bob Lawson
 Group Chief Executive Officer  Electrocomponents PLC          01865 204000

Jeff Hewitt
 Group Finance Director         Electrocomponents PLC          01865 204000

Diana Soltmann                  Flagship Consulting            020 7299 1500