Directorate Change

Smiths Group PLC
09 September 2005




News Release
London, 9. September, 2005
For immediate release


SMITHS GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR SUCCESSION ANNOUNCED


Smiths Group plc today issues the following announcement clarifying the
positions of two executive directors who are due to retire during the next 18
months:


Alan Thomson, who joined Smiths as Finance Director in 1995, will retire as
planned at age 60 in September 2006. He will be succeeded at that time by John
Langston, currently Group Managing Director, Specialty Engineering.  Mr Langston
is a chartered accountant and held senior financial posts in the manufacturing
industry before moving into general management.


Mr Thomson has agreed to stay with the company in a consulting capacity for up
to one year after his retirement.


John Ferrie, Group Managing Director, Aerospace, has agreed to continue in that
role for one further year beyond his planned retirement date in January 2007.
This will allow him to continue his involvement with a number of important
aerospace programmes that are approaching completion in the period ahead.


Keith Butler-Wheelhouse, Chief Executive of Smiths Group, said:


'The company's programme of phased succession began last year with Stephen
Phipson's appointment as Group Managing Director, Detection.  The search
currently under way for the next Group Managing Director, Medical is progressing
well.  This announcement sets out the next steps in the succession process.


I am particularly pleased that, for the key role of Finance Director, we have
been able to identify an internal candidate of the quality and experience of
John Langston.  I am also pleased that we will continue to have access to Alan
Thomson during a consultancy period; this will allow a seamless transfer to John
after Alan's distinguished service as Financial Director is complete.'


Smiths Group designs and manufactures safety critical systems and products and
has market-leading positions in aerospace systems, detection systems, medical
devices, mechanical seals and interconnect products. For more information, visit
www.smiths-group.com

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Contacts


Media                      Chris Fox               [phone]

Investor Relations         Russell Plumley         [phone]


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            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange