Appointment

Kingfisher PLC
1 March 2001



PRESS RELEASE

                                                               1 March 2001


Kingfisher today announced that Gerald Corbett, formerly Chief Executive of
Railtrack plc, has been appointed Executive Chairman of Woolworths and the
entertainment businesses (EUK, MVC and Streets Online).


His brief is to lead Kingfisher's General Merchandise sector going forward and
manage the process of separation from the rest of the Kingfisher Group's
activities in DIY and electrical retailing.


The General Merchandise Sector's Chief Executive, Martin Toogood, and the
Deputy Chief Executive and Finance Director, Philip Rowley, will be leaving
the Group. Mr Rowley, who is a Kingfisher director, will leave the Board on
March 31, 2001.


In September last year, Kingfisher announced plans to demerge its General
Merchandise sector from the rest of the Company. Subsequently, Kingfisher has
received a number of approaches for alternative methods of achieving the
separation which will only be pursued if they result in better value for
shareholders.


A Kingfisher spokesman said: 'The decision on the appropriate method of
separation, which now seems likely to include the sale of Superdrug, will be
made in order to achieve the best value for shareholders. The sale of
Superdrug would not impact on the prospects of a successful Stock Market
demerger - which is on course for the second quarter of this year - of the
Woolworths and Entertainment businesses. The supply arrangement with Superdrug
will be replicated.


Whilst Martin Toogood and Philip Rowley both support this change in structure
it has become clear that the broader management roles originally envisaged
will no longer be necessary.


Kingfisher Chief Executive, Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy, said: 'I am delighted that
we will have the access to the management, operational and transactional
skills which Gerald will bring to the benefit of Kingfisher shareholders. We
are sorry to be losing Martin and Philip, who have both made a valuable
contribution to the Group, but we all believe that this is the right
management structure for General Merchandise in the current circumstances.'


Gerald Corbett, who left Railtrack in November last year was Group Finance
Director of Grand Metropolitan plc from 1994 to 1997. Earlier in his career he
was with the Dixons Group for 5 years (1982-1987), first as Group Finance
Controller and then as Corporate Finance Director. Between 1987 and 1994 he
was Group Finance Director of Redland plc. He has held non-executive
directorships at MEPC plc and Burmah Castrol plc. He was educated at
Cambridge, the London Business School and Harvard Business School.


Commenting on his new appointment Mr Corbett said: 'Woolworths is a fine
company. It has a great heritage, a place at the heart of the community,
strong market positions and an excellent track record. Working with the
Woolworths team and those of our rapidly growing entertainment businesses is
an exciting opportunity.'

                                   - ends -


Notes to editors:

Kingfisher plc is one of Europe's leading retailers, operating principally
through its two international businesses in DIY and electricals and its
UK-focused general merchandise business. The company employs more than 130,000
people in over 2,900 stores across 15 countries and has some of the best known
retail brands in Europe, including B&Q, Castorama, Comet, Darty, BUT,
Woolworths and Superdrug among others.


For further information:

Media Enquiries:
John Eyre                                            [phone]
Jonathan Miller                                      [phone]
Gail Lavielle (France)                               [phone]

Broker and Institutional Enquiries:
Andrew Mills                                         [phone]
Ian Harding                                          [phone]
Graham Fairbank (France)                             [phone]

Kingfisher plc                                       [phone]

Kingfisher Website                                   www.kingfisher.co.uk