Directorate change

The Alliance Trust PLC

The Alliance Trust PLC announces under Listing Rule 16.7 (c) that Mrs
Sheila Ruckley, who has been an executive director of the Company since
November 2000, is to assume responsibility, with immediate effect, as
Director of Risk Management. Mrs. Ruckley retains her responsibilities
for investor relations.

The text of the press release associated with the change of
responsibility follows:

PRESS RELEASE.

The Alliance Trust PLC and The Second Alliance Trust PLC, the global
investment trust companies based in Dundee, today announced that Mrs
Sheila Ruckley is to assume responsibility as Director of Risk
Management with immediate effect.

Sheila Ruckley (54) has been with the Alliance Trusts since 1988. A
solicitor, she held office as Company Secretary of the Alliance Trusts
from 1989 to 2000, when she was appointed a director of the Trusts with
responsibility for Investor Relations. In her time at the organisation
she has also held office as compliance officer of the banking and
financial services subsidiary, Alliance Trust Savings Limited, and has
had a close involvement with the development of that company's retail
savings products, including being responsible, in 1987, for the
development and introduction of the self-invested personal pension,
which was the first low cost SIPP in the UK and is still the only one
provided and administered in house by an investment trust organisation.

Commenting on the change in executive responsibility, the Chief
Executive, Alan Harden, said:

"This organisation's objective is to provide the core investment for
those who want to build up a long term store of increasing value. The
importance of risk management has always been recognised and the proper
evaluation of risks and their management carried out. We attach such
importance to this function that we now consider appropriate that an
executive director assume responsibility for overseeing risk management
in the organisation and ensuring that it continues to be embedded.
Sheila, with her professional capabilities, wide understanding of the
organisation and the industry environment, and sensitivity to our
stockholder base, is well placed to assume this role."

Bruce Johnston, non-executive chairman of both investment trust
companies, added:

"The non-executive directors and I are particularly pleased to see this
appointment which evidences the commitment of the board to this
important function."

Sheila Ruckley, commenting, said:

"I am very pleased to accept this role which is all part of our
continuing focus and being prepared in the environment in which we work"

Notes to editors:

(1)  The Alliance Trust PLC and The Second Alliance Trust PLC
     are long established global growth investment trusts
     with net assets of £1.5 billion and £500 million
     respectively. They were both formed in the 1880s and
     continue to be self-managed, operating from Dundee. They
     have a very high proportion of retail investors,
     charities and trusts as stockholders and as holders
     through products provided by Alliance Trust Savings.

(2)  Alliance   Trust   Savings,  which  is   authorised   and
     regulated by the Financial Services Authority,  is  owned
     by the Alliance Trust and Second Alliance Trust. It is  a
     bank  which provides the low cost, Select range of  PEPs,
     ISAs,  Investment  Plans  and Pensions.  Formed  in  1986
     Alliance Trust Savings now has over 36,000 customers  and
     administers  over £1.2 billion of customer  assets.  Over
     16%  of  the stock of the Alliance Trust and 25% of  that
     of  the  Second Alliance Trust is now held through  these
     products,  which  also  allow self-select  investment  in
     other  UK  securities as well as in a selection  of  bond
     funds.  Sheila  Ruckley is also a  director  of  Alliance
     Trust Savings.

(3)  Sheila  Ruckley is available for comment on 01382  201700
     or contact Citigate Smarts as under:


Citigate Smarts

Karen Morrison            Tel: [phone]
Rachel Collins            Tel: [phone]
Flora Martin              Tel: [phone]