Directorate Change

Standard Life plc
01 March 2007

                               Standard Life plc

                                 Board changes


The Board of Standard Life announces the following Board changes.



Gerry Grimstone has been appointed as Chairman-elect.  He will succeed Sir Brian
Stewart who will step down as Chairman and retire from the Board at the
conclusion of the Company's Annual General Meeting on 29th May 2007.



Gerry Grimstone, currently Deputy Chairman, has served as a Standard Life
director since July 2003.  His appointment follows an extensive recruitment
search, led by the Senior Independent Director, Hugh Stevenson, and the
Nomination & Governance Committee, who were advised by external consultants.  In
the course of this they interviewed and considered both internal and external
candidates prior to recommending Gerry Grimstone's appointment to the Board.



It is also announced that Baroness McDonagh has been appointed as a
non-executive director, with effect from 1st March 2007.  From 1998 to 2001,
Margaret McDonagh was both the first woman and the youngest General Secretary of
the Labour Party.  After 15 years with the Labour Party, she became general
manager of Express Newspapers, and now works as a business consultant.  She was
appointed a Life Peer in July 2004, and she has, since August 2004, been a
non-executive director of TBI plc.



In addition, John Hylands will step down from the Board on 31st March 2007,
after five years as an executive director.  John headed Standard Life's UK
Marketing Division from 1994 until 2001 and was Group Finance Director from 2001
until 2005.  In 2004 he was appointed by the Board to lead the project to
demutualise the Company, a project which came to a successful conclusion in July
2006, with the flotation of Standard Life plc on the London Stock Exchange.



John remained with the Company after demutualisation to complete related
activities and ensure a smooth handover.  He now leaves Standard Life to pursue
other opportunities.



In a further change, it is also announced that Alison Mitchell will retire from
the Board at the conclusion of the forthcoming Annual General Meeting, and will
not stand for re-election.  She has served as a non-executive director since
December 2000.



Sir Brian Stewart said:  'I am delighted that Gerry has been appointed to
succeed me as Chairman of the Board.  In the past three years, I have
appreciated his support and clear thinking and his contribution to the Board's
discussions.  I look forward to seeing him lead the Board into the next phase of
the Company's growth and development. I am also pleased to welcome Margaret to
the Board. Her experience in politics and business will be of great benefit to
the Board'.



'John in turn has made a huge contribution to Standard Life in his 27 years of
service and played a key role in the successful demutualisation and flotation of
the business in July 2006.  He leaves the Company with our thanks and our very
good wishes for his future career'.



'I would also like to thank Alison for her significant contribution to Standard
Life.  She has been a key player in shaping the Board's communications with
members during the demutualisation and flotation process, and played an
instrumental part in ensuring the effectiveness of the Member's Roadshows in the
period following the strategic review and in the run up to demutualisation'.



Gerry Grimstone added: 'I am honoured to have been appointed Chairman of
Standard Life.  I look forward to working with the Board and everyone involved
with the Group to build on the great strengths already in place'.



Following these changes, the Board of Standard Life plc will comprise four
executive directors and seven non-executive directors, including the Chairman.
No other information is required to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph LR
9.6.13R of the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority in relation to
these appointments.





Enquiries:



Standard Life plc

Scott White, Press Office                         0131 245 5422
Gordon Aitken, Investor Relations,                0131 245 6799
Kenneth Gilmour, Group Secretariat.               0131 245 0751



END



Notes to editors



Gerry Grimstone: Biographical notes:



Education:

Gerry Grimstone holds a MA and MSc in chemistry from Merton College, Oxford and
spent a NATO-CCMS Fellowship at Wolfson College, Oxford.



Professional experience:

Gerry Grimstone held senior positions with the Department of Health and Social
Security and HM Treasury until 1986.  He then spent 13 years with Schroders in
London, Hong Kong and New York prior to becoming Vice Chairman of Schroders'
worldwide investment banking activities.



Other directorships:

Candover Investments plc (Chairman)

Dairy Crest Group plc (Senior Independent Director and Chairman of the
Remuneration Committee)

F&C Global Smaller Companies plc (Chairman)

RAF Strike Command Board (Chairman of RAF Joint Audit Committee)



He has confirmed his intention to reduce his external commitments during 2007.



Contractual arrangements and interests in shares

Gerry Grimstone will take up the position of Chairman at the conclusion of the
Annual General Meeting on 29th May 2007.  As Non-Executive Director, Deputy
Chairman and chairman of the Remuneration Committee, he currently receives an
annual fee of £95,000.



On becoming Chairman, Gerry Grimstone will receive an annual fee of £275,000.
He will chair the Nomination & Governance Committee and the Corporate
Responsibility Committee.



His letter of appointment provides for a notice period of six months.



Gerry Grimstone is not eligible to participate in the Group's bonus and long
term incentive schemes, nor will he participate in the Group's pension schemes
or receive any other benefits from the Company.



Gerry Grimstone has a beneficial interest in 62,295 Standard Life plc ordinary
Shares.


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