Directorate Changes

Cookson Group PLC
06 March 2003

6 March 2003


                               Cookson Group plc
                                 Board Changes

               Robert Beeston appointed as non-executive Director
                             and Chairman Designate

Cookson Group plc ('Cookson' or the 'Company'), the international materials
technology group, is pleased to announce that Mr Robert Beeston is to join the
Board as a non-executive Director with effect from 1 April 2003 and will assume
the position of Chairman with effect from the close of the Company's Annual
General Meeting on 24 April 2003.

From 1992 until December 2002, Mr Beeston was Chief Executive Officer of FKI
plc, the £1.6bn turnover international engineering group.

Having begun his career as an apprentice with Dowty Group in 1960, Mr Beeston
(61) has a long and distinguished record in the engineering sector. He spent 18
years with Dowty Group holding a number of management positions, primarily in
manufacturing, before joining John Brown Plastics Machinery (UK) Ltd as Managing
Director in 1978. In 1985, he was appointed Managing Director of BTR Valve
Group, a position he held for six years before joining FKI plc as Chief
Executive Officer in 1992.

During his 10 year tenure at FKI plc, the business was successfully restructured
into four divisions each commanding a leading position in their global markets,
and produced an impressive record of strong cash flow and dividend growth.

Mr Beeston is a non-executive Director, and Chairman of the Remuneration
Committee, of D S Smith Plc, the international packaging and office products
group.

Mr Beeston will succeed Sir Bryan Nicholson as Cookson's Chairman. Sir Bryan
(70) joined Cookson's Board as Chairman in 1998 and is to retire at the
forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

Anthony Alexander, Senior non-executive Director of Cookson, who led the search
on behalf of the Nominations Committee, said:

'We are delighted that Bob Beeston has agreed to join Cookson as our Chairman.
He has an outstanding track record in the international engineering sector, and
his experience will be of great value as, after two challenging years, we drive
the Company's financial performance forward and, with it, value for
shareholders.

'I would like to express my sincere thanks, and those of everyone within
Cookson, to Bryan Nicholson for his guidance and unwavering support during his
five years as Chairman. His contribution to Cookson's affairs has been
invaluable, and we wish him well in his continuing roles as Chairman of the
Financial Reporting Council and the Council of the Open University.'

Robert Beeston said:

'I am delighted to have been asked to chair Cookson's Board. It is a Company
made up of well run, high quality businesses and I share the management team's
belief and confidence in its future prospects.

'I also recognise and understand shareholders' desire to see these prospects
better reflected in the value of their investment, and this will be at the
forefront of our minds as we take the Company forward.'

               Kent Atkinson appointed as non-executive Director

Cookson is also pleased to announce that Mr Kent Atkinson is to join the Board
as a non-executive Director with effect from 1 April 2003.

Mr Atkinson (57) was Group Finance Director of Lloyds TSB Group plc for eight
years from 1994 until June 2002. He remains on the Board of Lloyds TSB Group plc
as a non-executive Director.

He is Senior Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of
Coca-Cola HBC SA, roles he has held since May 1998. He joined the Boards of
Marconi plc and Marconi Corporation in December 2002 to assist them in their
restructuring, in both cases as non-executive Director and Chairman of the Audit
Committees.

It is intended that Mr Atkinson will, after a period of induction, be appointed
as Chairman of Cookson's Audit Committee.

Sir Bryan Nicholson, Chairman of Cookson, said:

'I am delighted to be able to welcome Kent Atkinson to Cookson. We are very
fortunate to have someone of his calibre and experience joining our Board.

'I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Richard Haythornthwaite,
who is due to retire at this year's AGM, for his valuable contribution and
support during his term as a non-executive Director.'



Shareholder/analyst enquiries:

Cookson Group plc Tel: [phone]

Sir Bryan Nicholson, Chairman

Anthony Alexander, Senior non-executive Director

Stephen Howard, Group Chief Executive



Press enquiries:

Hogarth Partnership Tel: [phone]

John Olsen




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