Directorate Change

Macfarlane Group PLC
07 May 2003



The board of Macfarlane Group PLC announces that Iain Duffin has today stepped
down as chief executive and will not seek re-election as a director at the
company's Annual General Meeting to be held on 13 May 2003.


In his statement to the board, Mr Duffin said the group's major restructuring
programme had taken longer and had been more difficult than originally expected.
The restructuring difficulties had been exacerbated by poor economic conditions
and in particular the loss of business in Scotland due to the severe downturn in
the electronics industry. Nonetheless, Mr Duffin believed that the restructuring
programme was now nearing completion and that the strategy was clear. It was
therefore the right time to seek a successor with marketing and sales skills who
would take full advantage of the group's position. Mr Duffin intimated that he
would therefore stand down now as chief executive but that he would be available
to help with particular areas in the short term as the board might request.


The board thanks Iain Duffin for his efforts over the last four years. The
recent period has been difficult and the board agrees with Iain Duffin that now
is the right time to identify a new chief executive to take the group forward.
The company had already announced in its preliminary statement of results for
the year to 31 December 2002 that it intended to recruit a chief operating
officer with the capability to become chief executive. This recruitment process
is advancing well and a number of promising candidates with the ability to be
chief executive have been identified. Until a new chief executive starts, Sir
John Ward will become executive chairman and there will be some minor
reallocation of management and reporting lines within the business to ensure
that proper continuity is maintained.




Further information:

Sir John Ward                          Chairman                 0141 333 9666




Media:

Gordon Beattie                         Beattie Media            01698 787878





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