Change to Board of Directors

Cairn Energy PLC
15 June 2000


                 Cairn Energy PLC ('Cairn' or 'the Company')


                      Appointment of Executive Director


Cairn announces its intention to appoint Malcolm S. Thoms as an Executive
Director of the Company with effect from 1 July 2000. 

In addition to his existing duties as Group General Manager, Mr Thoms will
assume specific responsibility for Cairn's assets in Bangladesh. 

Mr Thoms is 44 years of age and holds a BSc Hons in Physics from Edinburgh
University and an MBA from Heriot Watt University. He joined Cairn in 1989 and
has held a number of senior management positions. 



Enquiries:-

Cairn Energy PLC

Bill Gammell, Chief Executive                             0131 475 3000


Brunswick Group Limited

Victoria Sabin                                            0207 396 7422
Melissa Hellberg                                          0207 396 7487


Note to Editors:-

'Cairn' where referred to in this release means Cairn Energy PLC and/or its
subsidiaries, as appropriate.

 
Information required to be disclosed pursuant to the Listing Rules of the UK
Listing Authority:-

There is nothing to disclose under paragraphs 6.F.2 (a) to (g) of the Listing
Rules of the UK Listing Authority.

Mr Thoms has a beneficial holding in Cairn of 146,999 Ordinary Shares of 10
pence each, representing 0.0009% of  Cairn's issued ordinary share capital. He
also holds options to subscribe for 60,000 Ordinary Shares at a price of £2.34
per share under the Company's 1996 Second Share Option Scheme. These options
were granted on 26 May 1996 and can be exercised between three and ten years
from the date of grant.

Mr Thoms also holds the following Awards under the Company's Long Term
Incentive Plan ('LTIP'):-

Tier One Awards:-

Award of Shares   Date of Award      Market Value           Earliest Release
                                     at Date of Award       Date (for 50% of 
                                                            any Award)
       
  125,000         4 May 1999            £1.30               4 May 2002
  120,000         8 March 2000          £1.375              8 March 2003


Tier Two Awards:-

Award of          Date of Award      Market Value           Earliest Release
Notional Shares                      at Date of Award       Date (for 50% of  
                                                            any Award)
        
  400,000         4 May 1999            £1.30              4 May 2002
   50,000         8 March 2000          £1.375             8 March 2003