Inchcape Chief Executive

Inchcape PLC 01 June 2005 1 June 2005 Inchcape announce appointment of new Group Chief Executive Inchcape plc, the international automotive services group, announces that Andre Lacroix has been appointed to succeed Peter Johnson as Group Chief Executive. Andre Lacroix, 45, will join the Board of Inchcape on 1 September 2005. He will assume the role of Group Chief Executive on 1 January 2006 at which time Peter Johnson will succeed Sir John Egan as Non-executive Chairman, as previously announced. Sir John Egan will retire from the Board on 31 December 2005. Andre Lacroix has an exceptional international management track record, with a very strong background in retail, marketing, customer service and relationship management across a broad range of territories. From July 2003 until May 2005, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Euro Disney S.C.A. During his tenure, the Company completed its financial restructuring and initiated a long term, consumer focused, growth strategy. From 1996 to 2003 he held a series of senior international roles at Burger King International, owned by Diageo. From 2001 to 2003 he was President of Burger King International and responsible for all operations outside North America. In 2003 Burger King International had sales of approximately US $3.0bn through some 3,000 outlets. From 1988 to 1996, he held a series of senior marketing, sales and general management roles at PepsiCo in a number of their major markets, again outside North America. He previously spent four years in product management at Colgate Palmolive. Peter Johnson, Group Chief Executive, commented: 'I am delighted that Andre Lacroix has agreed to be our next Group Chief Executive, and I greatly look forward to working with him.' 'In his career to date, Andre has demonstrated exceptional strategic and operational acumen in an international environment. He has a very strong track record of leading major retail and other consumer focused businesses across a range of territories, and in managing complex and sensitive relationships at the highest level; all of which will be key requirements of the role.' Sir John Egan, Chairman, said: 'In Andre Lacroix, we have identified a first rate successor to Peter. His skills, when combined with the extensive knowledge of the automotive industry that already exists at Board level, and the strength of our senior operational management teams, will provide Inchcape with the very high quality of strategic and operational leadership required to continue the success achieved during Peter's tenure.' Commenting on his appointment, Andre Lacroix said: 'I am extremely pleased to join Inchcape and look forward to working with Peter, the Board, the management executive team and all employees of the Company. Inchcape has an outstanding operational and financial track record, thanks to the strengths of its business model, the quality of its management and its relationship with manufacturer partners. I am excited about Inchcape's future and believe that these strong fundamentals will enable the Company to take advantage of further growth opportunities.' Notes to editors As Group Chief Executive of Inchcape plc, Andre Lacroix will receive a basic annual salary of £620,000. His other contractual terms are consistent with those of the current Group Chief Executive, Peter Johnson, which are detailed in the Annual report and accounts for 2004, and which include a notice period of not more than twelve months. For further information, please contact: Group Communications, Inchcape plc 020 7546 0022 Hogarth Partnership Limited (John Olsen/Barnaby Fry) 020 7357 9477 Inchcape, an international automotive services group, provides quality representation for its manufacturer partners, a choice of channels to market and products for its retail customers and a range of business services for its corporate customers. Operations are focused on the UK, Greece, Belgium, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. Inchcape's activities include exclusive Import, Distribution and Retail, Business Services, automotive E-commerce and Financial Services. Our key manufacturer partners are Toyota/Lexus, Subaru, BMW, the Premier Automotive Group of Ford, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. For further information, visit us at www.inchcape.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

Companies

Inchcape (INCH)
UK 100