Directorate Change

Whitbread PLC
27 February 2004



27th February 2004



Re: Directorate

Whitbread PLC announces with regret that Bill Shannon, Managing Director of
Whitbread Restaurants, is to step down from full time executive duties and as a
director of the company at the Annual General Meeting in June.

Sir John Banham, Chairman, said:

'Bill has been with Whitbread almost thirty years and as a board director for
nine years. Most recently, over the last 4 years, he has built Whitbread's
restaurant division into a business with over £1bn of sales from a portfolio of
leading brands with current performance and organic growth prospects to rival
the very best of Britain's retailers. This has been a major contributor to
Whitbread's good performance and our board will be very sad to see him go after
a long and distinguished career in the company.

'Bill will stay in position until the end of June to support Alan Parker, Chief
Executive Designate, for the transition.'



                                     -ends-



Please contact:

Julie Weldon  - 020 7806 5443








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