Directorate Change

814 - 31 October 2002

                                                      SPIRENT PLC                                                      

                                     JOHN WESTON APPOINTED NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN                                      

Spirent plc (LSE: SPT; NYSE: SPM), a leading international network technology company, today announces the appointment
by the Board of John Weston CBE as Non-executive Chairman with effect from 7 November 2002.

John (51) was formerly Chief Executive of BAE SYSTEMS (May 1998 to March 2002). During his tenure the business grew
from an organisation located mainly in the UK to an international group with multi-billion pound sales.

John, who has an engineering degree from Cambridge University, joined British Aircraft Corporation, later British
Aerospace, in 1970. By 1992 he had been appointed Group Managing Director of British Aerospace Defence Businesses,
which subsequently achieved substantial sales growth, and a significant reduction in cost base, at a time of
challenging market conditions and global change.

John takes over from James Wyness who had been acting Non-executive Chairman following the sudden death of Dr George
Sarney in April this year. James will revert back to being senior independent Non-executive Director and the Board is
very grateful for his service as acting Non-executive Chairman over the recent months.

Commenting, Nicholas Brookes, Chief Executive of Spirent, said:

'John's appointment by the Board of Spirent is taking place at an important time. His public company experience,
understanding of international business and technology, and strategic insight will be of enormous value as we manage
Spirent through these very challenging markets. The Board is determined to ensure that Spirent remains strategically
well positioned to respond to our customers' developing needs.'

John Weston said:

'Spirent is a Group with world leading telecommunications technology. I look forward to working with the Board to help
steer the business through the current difficult market environment and ensure that we are well positioned to benefit
from the market recovery when it comes.'

                                                       - ends -                                                        

Photographs available at www.newscast.co.uk

Enquiries

Nicholas Brookes, Chief Executive        Spirent plc                  [phone]                     

Investor Relations                                                                                         

Catherine Nash                           Spirent plc                  [phone]                     

Media                                                                                                      

Jon Coles/Rupert Young                   Brunswick (London)           [phone]                    
About Spirent

Spirent plc is an international network technology company providing state-of-the-art systems and solutions for a broad
range of customers worldwide. Our Communications group is a worldwide provider of integrated performance analysis and
service assurance systems for next-generation network technologies. Spirent's solutions accelerate the development and
deployment of network equipment and services by emulating real-world conditions and assuring end-to-end performance of
large-scale networks. Our Network Products group provides innovative solutions for fastening, identifying, insulating,
organising, routing and connectivity that add value to electrical and communication networks in a wide range of
applications. Our Systems group offers integrated product solutions for the aerospace and power controls markets.
Further information about Spirent plc can be found at www.spirent.com
Spirent plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: SPT) and on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker: SPM; CUSIP
number: 84856M209) with one American Depositary Receipt representing four Ordinary shares.

Spirent and the Spirent logo are trademarks of Spirent plc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are held by
their respective companies. All rights reserved.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the United States Private
Securities Legislation Reform Act 1995) that are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about
future events. You can identify these statements by their use of words such as 'will,' 'anticipate,' 'estimate,'
'expect,' 'project,' 'intend,' 'plan,' 'should,' 'may,' 'assume' and other similar words. You should not place undue
reliance on our forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to factors
that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. Such
factors include: the effects of competition on our business; our ability to develop and commercialise new products and
services and realise product synergies; our ability to focus on growth areas in the relevant markets; risks relating to
the acquisition or sale of businesses and our subsequent ability to integrate businesses; changes in the business,
financial condition or prospects of one or more of our major customers; our reliance on third party manufacturers and
suppliers; our exposure to liabilities for product defects; our reliance on proprietary technology; our ability to
attract and retain qualified personnel; risks of doing business internationally; changes in market conditions in the
markets in which we participate or in general economic conditions; and other risks described from time to time in
Spirent plc's Securities and Exchange Commission periodic reports and filings. We undertake no obligation to update
our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.