Directorate Change

3i Group PLC
02 November 2004





2 November 2004





3i Group plc - appointment of Finance Director



3i Group plc announces the appointment of Mr Simon Ball as Finance Director of
the Company with effect from 7 February 2005.  This follows the Company's
announcement that 3i Group's current Finance Director, Mr Michael Queen, would
assume responsibility for Growth Capital.



Simon Ball (44) is currently the Director General Finance at the Department for
Constitutional Affairs (DCA).  He was appointed to this role in January 2003.



He began his career at Price Waterhouse & Company before joining Kleinwort
Benson Lonsdale plc in 1985, where he became Finance Director of Kleinwort
Benson Securities Ltd in 1990, Finance Director of Kleinwort Benson Ltd in 1994,
Group Finance Director in 1996 and Chief Operating Officer (UK) of Dresdner
Kleinwort Benson in 1997.



In 1998 Simon Ball was appointed Group Finance Director of Robert Fleming
Holdings Limited and played a key role in its reorganisation and subsequent sale
to Chase Manhattan Corporation for £4.5 billion.  He was a Managing Director at
Chase Manhattan International Limited until December 2000.



Since 2001 Simon has served as a non-executive director and chairman of the
audit committee of Leica Geosystems AG and is a non-executive adviser to
Integrum Ltd.



Commenting on the appointment, Philip Yea, Chief Executive, of 3i Group plc
said:



'We are delighted that Simon has agreed to become the Group's Finance Director.
He has a wide range of experience, combining a strong career in the financial
services sector, experience of start ups and a track record of change
management.'



Simon Ball commented:



'I am delighted to be joining 3i Group.  I am excited by Phil's vision for the
business and look forward to working with him and the team.'



Gus O'Donnell, Permanent Secretary to HM Treasury, commented:



'Simon has made a substantial contribution to reshaping board level thinking
during his two years in Whitehall.  In addition to establishing the DCA as one
of the leaders in financial management across government, his success has been a
critical factor behind the Prime Minister's and Chancellor's initiative to
strengthen strategic financial expertise across all our departmental boards.'



This appointment has been approved by the Prime Minister on the advice of the
advisory committee on business appointments.

There are no other matters to disclose in accordance with paragraph 16.4 of the
FSA's Listing Rules.



- ends -





For further information please contact:


Patrick Dunne          Group Communications Director, 3i           020 7975 3566
Philip Gawith          The Maitland Consultancy                    020 7379 5151
Lucian Hudson          Communications Director, DCA                020 7210 8673





Notes to editors



3i Group plc

3i is a FTSE100 company and world leader in private equity and venture capital.
We focus on Buyouts, Growth Capital and Venture Capital and invest across
Europe, in the United States and in Asia Pacific.



Our competitive advantage comes from our international network and the strength
and breadth of our relationships in business.  It underpins the value that we
deliver to our portfolio and to our shareholders.



3i's investor relations website is www.3igroup.com



The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA)

DCA is responsible in government for upholding justice, rights and democracy.
The DCA's aim is to provide for effective and accessible justice for all, to
ensure the rights and responsibilities of the citizen, and to modernise the law
and constitution. At the DCA Simon Ball reports to Permanent Secretary, Alex
Allan, who joined the department in August 2004.



More information on the DCA can be found at www.dca.gov.uk



The advisory committee on business appointments is responsible for vetting
appointments from the public sector to the private sector.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange       OABBBPTMMJMBII