Directorate

SMITH (WH) GROUP PLC
7 September 1999


WH Smith Group PLC

APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN

WH Smith announced today (7 September) the appointment of Martin
Taylor as Chairman.

Mr Taylor (47) will join the Board on 1 October and will
succeed Jeremy Hardie as Chairman with effect from 1 November.
Mr Hardie, who has been Chairman since January 1994, will leave
the Board on 1 November.

Martin Taylor, formerly Chief Executive of Barclays PLC, was a
non-executive director of WH Smith from 1993 to 1998.

Group Chief Executive, Richard Handover, said:  'Martin
Taylor's extensive business experience will enable him to
provide the executive team with invaluable counsel as we
continue to develop the WHSmith brand and businesses.'

Martin Taylor, said:  'I am delighted to be rejoining WHSmith.
I enjoyed my earlier time on the Board and, of course, I know
Richard Handover very well.  WHSmith has made tremendous
progress in the last two years, and I am looking forward to
working with Richard and his very focused team.'


Enquiries:

Tim Blythe    WH Smith Group PLC    0171 514 9623