Directorate Change

Sainsbury(J) PLC
05 October 2004




5 October 2004


Sainsbury's Finance Director to leave in March 2005


Roger Matthews (50), finance director of J Sainsbury plc and chairman of
Sainsbury's Bank, has decided to leave the company at the end of its financial
year in March 2005.


Philip Hampton, chairman said: 'Roger indicated his longer term intentions when
I was appointed earlier this year.   We both consider now is the best time to
begin to move toward an orderly succession.    We have started the process for
the appointment of his successor and our timing should provide for a smooth
handover of responsibilities


'Roger has made a major contribution during a very volatile time in the retail
industry and also a time of significant change at Sainsbury's including the
recent successful sale of Shaw's in the US.   We thank him for his considerable
efforts and wish him well in the future.


'Roger has told me that after five intensive years with Sainsbury's he plans to
develop a portfolio of interests in both the public and private sectors within
which he also hopes to address his passion for sport.'



Notes

Roger Matthews joined J Sainsbury in 1999 from Compass plc where he was group
managing director and finance director.


He is currently a non-executive director of Zenergy UK Limited.





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