Re Directorate

Severn Trent PLC
18 September 2000


SEVERN TRENT PLC

Appointment of New Non-Executive Director

The Board of Severn Trent Plc is pleased to announce that Dr John David
Gibson McAdam has been appointed a Non-Executive Director, effective from 18
September 2000.

John McAdam (52) is a Main Board member of ICI Plc.  He is currently
responsible for ICI's world-wide decorative and industrial coatings
operations, corporate science and technology and oversees ICI's activities
in Asia.

Commenting today, David Arculus, Chairman said:

'I am delighted to welcome John to the Board.  His breadth and depth of
experience, coupled with his manufacturing and marketing knowledge, will
bring added strength and perspective to the Board and Group as a whole'.


For more information please contact:

David Arculus             Severn Trent Plc           Tel: [phone]
Chairman

Robert Walker             Severn Trent Plc           Tel: [phone]
Group Chief Executive

Simon Holberton           Brunswick Group            Tel: [phone]
Helen Shepard

Notes to Editors

Biographical Information on Dr John David Gibson

After obtaining a First Class Honours Degree in Chemical Physics in 1970, Dr
John David Gibson went on to gain a PhD in 1973, before being appointed to a
post-doctoral fellowship by the Medical Research Council.

Dr John David Gibson joined Unilever as a management trainee in 1974.
During his career with Unilever he held a number of senior positions with
responsibility for manufacturing, product and process development,
procurement and logistics in businesses operating in the fragrance, flavour
and food industries; and served on the Boards of PPF; Quest International;
and Birds Eye Wall's Ltd.

In 1993 he was appointed Chairman and CEO of Unichema International with
responsibility for Unilever's world-wide oleochemical operations based in
the Netherlands.

Following the acquisition of the Unilever Speciality Chemical businesses by
ICI in 1997, he was appointed Chairman and CEO of Quest International and a
member of ICI's Executive Management Team, before subsequently returning to
the UK to take up the positions he now holds.