Appointment

Smith (DS) PLC
05 November 2002

                                           EMBARGOED UNTIL 10.00 A.M. ON 5.11.02



5 November 2002



          Gavin Morris Appointed Group Finance Director at DS Smith Plc



DS Smith Plc, the international packaging manufacturer and office products
wholesaler, today announces the appointment of Gavin Morris as Group Finance
Director with immediate effect.



Gavin, age 49, who joined DS Smith in September 2002, was most recently Chief
Financial Officer of Citex Group.  Prior to that he held Chief Financial Officer
positions at Philips Lighting Holding BV, Ionica Group Plc, Alfred McAlpine Plc
and Norcros Plc.  He also previously worked for Bain and Company in the USA and
the UK.  Gavin has a 1st Class Honours degree in Psychology from the University
of Edinburgh and an MBA (Finance) from the University of Chicago.



David Buttfield, who has been Group Finance Director for DS Smith since 1994, is
taking early retirement and will remain on the Board as an executive director
until the end of January 2003 to ensure a smooth hand-over of responsibilities.



Tony Thorne, Group Chief Executive of DS Smith, said:



'I am delighted that Gavin is taking up the position of Group Finance Director
with DS Smith.  His extensive financial and international management experience
will make him a valuable member of the executive team that will drive the
further operational and strategic development of DS Smith.



'I thank David Buttfield for the valuable contribution he has made to the Group
over the past eleven years, during the last nine of which he has been Group
Finance Director.  He can feel proud to leave the Company in a very sound
financial state.  We all wish him well for the future.'



Gavin Morris said:



'I am looking forward to working with Tony Thorne and his team to develop
further the considerable potential of DS Smith and to deliver increased returns
for our shareholders.'



Ends



Enquiries:



DS Smith Plc                                                    020 7932 5000

Tony Thorne, Group Chief Executive
Peter Aubusson, Group Communications Manager

Financial Dynamics                                              020 7831 3113
Richard Mountain/Robert Gurner



Regulatory Disclosure



It is confirmed that there are no details that are required to be disclosed in
connection with Gavin Morris under paragraphs 6 F 2(b) to (g) of the Listing
Rules, other than as set out below pursuant to paragraph 6 F 2 (d).



On 14 April 1998, Gavin Morris joined Ionica Group as part of a new management
team and became a director of Ionica Group plc and Ionica plc (Ionica Group
plc's principal subsidiary).  He resigned as a director of Ionica plc on 4
December 1998 following Ionica plc being placed into administration on 29
October 1998.  He remained a director of Ionica Group plc until his resignation
on 2 November 1999.



On 20 December 2000 a Deed of Release was entered into between Ionica plc, and
the Joint Administrators of Ionica plc on behalf of all creditors of Ionica and
Micadant (as Ionica Group plc has subsequently been re-named), whereby all
claims against Micadant and its directors and Ionica plc's directors were waived
or released.



As at 30 June 2002, the shortfall to creditors under a scheme of arrangement of
Ionica plc (approved by the High Court in London on 28 November 2000) was
approximately £355 million.





Notes to Editors



DS Smith Plc (LSE:SMDS) is an international Group focused on two major
activities - Packaging and Office Products.  The Packaging activity is comprised
of Corrugated and Paper (49% of Group turnover) and Plastics (13%).  Office
Products is comprised of the Spicers Wholesaling business (35%) and the John
Dickinson Manufacturing operation (3%). Group turnover for the financial year
ended 30 April 2002 was £1,440.2 million, with operating profit of £72.0 million
before exceptional items and amortisation of intangibles.



The Group employs around 10,900 people across operations in UK, France, Germany,
Italy, Spain, Belgium, Ireland, Poland, Turkey, Czech Republic, USA, Australia
and New Zealand.



The company changed its name to DS Smith Plc from David S. Smith (Holdings) PLC
in September 2001.



For further information: www.dssmith.uk.com






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