Board Change

Smith & Nephew Plc
09 February 2006



Smith & Nephew - Board Appointments

9 February 2006


Smith & Nephew plc (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN), the global medical technology business,
announced today that it has made the following board appointments.



At the completion of his second term as Chairman of Smith & Nephew, Dudley
Eustace will be retiring at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 27 April
2006.  John Buchanan, who was appointed as Deputy Chairman in February 2005,
will take over as Chairman with effect from the end of that meeting.



The Board has also promoted David Illingworth to Chief Operating Officer and
appointed him as a Director reporting to Chris O'Donnell, Chief Executive.
David will take responsibility for leading the forward growth of Smith &
Nephew's four business units; Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Orthopaedic Trauma
(including Clinical Therapies), Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management.



Dudley Eustace, Chairman of Smith & Nephew commenting on these appointments
said:



'Smith & Nephew is a great business and I have been proud to have been part of
it during its major transition from a healthcare conglomerate to a highly
focused global medical technology business.  The strategic development of the
business and its strong financial performance has materially increased
shareholder value.  I have a high regard for John Buchanan, and have every
confidence that under his Chairmanship the Company will continue to develop
strongly.'



'The appointment of David Illingworth to the post of Chief Operating Officer
increases the capacity of the management as the business moves into its next
phase of growth.  This will enable Chris O'Donnell as Chief Executive to focus
more on strategy and business development.  I welcome David to the Board and the
additional talent and management strength he brings.'



There are no details relating to the appointment of David Illingworth that are
required to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph 9.6.13 (1-6) of the Listing
Rules.



Enquiries


Investors
Sir Christopher O'Donnell                 Tel:     [phone]
Smith & Nephew
Chief Executive

Investors / Media
Liz Hewitt                                Tel:     [phone]
Smith & Nephew
Group Director Corporate Affairs



About John Buchanan



John Buchanan was Group Chief Financial Officer and a board member of BP plc for
six years retiring in 2002. During his tenure as a board member BP merged with
Amoco and acquired Arco and Burmah Castrol.  In his BP career he held a number
of senior management roles including Chief Operating Officer of BP Chemicals and
worked in Switzerland and New Zealand as well as the UK.  He was seconded to the
UK Cabinet Office in the Central Policy Review Unit in 1976-77 and was a member
of the UK Accounting Standards Board from 1997 to 2001.  John is a non-executive
director of BHP Billiton, AstraZeneca and Vodafone.



About David Illingworth



David Illingworth joined Smith & Nephew as president in May 2002. He has 26
years experience in the medical technology industry of which 15 were with GE
Medical.  He has worked in the areas of diagnostic imaging, respiratory, and
urological products, as well as heading up a technology incubator company.  He
is a graduate of Texas A&M University and is a member of the Corporate Advisory
Council of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons.  David was born in
Canada and is a naturalised US Citizen.



About Smith & Nephew



Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specialising in
Orthopaedics, Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management products.  Smith & Nephew
is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of
the fastest growing global orthopaedics companies.



Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives.  The company
prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and
professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high
standards of performance, innovation and trust.  The company has over 8,500
employees and operates in 33 countries around the world generating annual sales
of $2.6 billion.



Forward-Looking Statements



This press release contains certain 'forward-looking statements' within the
meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  In
particular, statements regarding expected revenue growth and operating margins
discussed under 'Outlook' are forward-looking statements as are discussions of
our product pipeline.  These statements, as well as the phrases 'aim', 'plan',
'intend', 'anticipate', 'well-placed', 'believe', 'estimate', 'expect',
'target', 'consider' and similar expressions, are generally intended to identify
forward-looking statements.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but not
limited to, the outcome of litigation, claims and regulatory approvals) that
could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew,
or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Please
refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20F, for a
discussion of certain of these factors.



All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information
available to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof.  All written or oral
forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person acting
on behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by the
foregoing.  Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith &
Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based.




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