Directorate Change

Whitbread PLC 09 December 2004 Embargoed until 7am on Thursday, 9th December 2004 Whitbread appoints finance director designate Whitbread today announces the appointment of Christopher Rogers as finance director designate. He will succeed David Richardson on May 1st, 2005. Mr Rogers (44) is currently group finance director of the Woolworths Group PLC and chairman of the Woolworths Group Entertainment Wholesale and Publishing businesses. After qualifying as an accountant with Price Waterhouse, Mr Rogers joined Kingfisher PLC as group corporate finance manager in 1988. Subsequent appointments included group financial controller at Kingfisher PLC, finance director of Comet Group plc and then four years as commercial director at Comet. Alan Parker, Whitbread's chief executive, said: 'Chris played a lead role in the demerger of the Woolworths Group from Kingfisher and has been an important part of the team that has significantly improved the performance of the Woolworths Group over the last three years. His strong retail and commercial background will enable him to make an immediate contribution at Whitbread as we continue to develop our strategy to maximise shareholder value.' -end- Please contact: David Reed 020 7806 5436 Dan Waugh 020 7806 5442 Julie Weldon 020 7806 5443 Note to Editors: About Whitbread PLC Whitbread PLC is the UK's leading hospitality business, managing the number one brands in hotels, restaurants and racquets, health and fitness clubs, including Premier Travel Inn, Marriott (UK), Brewers Fayre, Beefeater, Costa, T.G.I. Friday's and David Lloyd Leisure, and a strategic investment in Pizza Hut (UK). Our success is due to the 50,000 people we employ in our businesses and the skill with which they serve the 10 million customers who each month visit our 1,400 outlets across the UK. Whitbread's strategy is to create value for our shareholders by focusing on growth in expanding sectors of the hospitality industry, primarily in the UK but also in selected international markets. In the financial year to March 4, 2004, Whitbread generated pre-tax, pre-exceptional profit of £240.8m on sales of more than £1.8bn. Founded in 1742, the company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (as WTB.L) and is a member of the FTSE 100 and FTSE4Good indices. Further information is available from www.whitbread.co.uk. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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Whitbread (WTB)
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