Directorate Change

Reed Elsevier PLC
07 December 2007

For immediate release                                            7 December 2007

           Issued on behalf of Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV


           Reed Elsevier announces the retirement of Strauss Zelnick

Reed Elsevier today announced the retirement of Strauss Zelnick from the boards
of Reed Elsevier with immediate effect.

Mr Zelnick has served as a Non-Executive Director of Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed
Elsevier Group plc and as a Supervisory Board member of Reed Elsevier NV since
2005.  He is the founder partner of the New York based ZelnickMedia Corporation,
which has a broad and growing portfolio of media interests.

Reed Elsevier also announced that Rolf Stomberg, who was due to retire as a
Non-Executive Director of Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier Group plc and as a
Supervisory Board member of Reed Elsevier NV at the end of the year, has, at the
Boards' request, postponed his retirement until the 2008 Annual General Meetings
to be held in April 2008.

Chairman Jan Hommen said:

'Strauss feels that his increasing business commitments in the US will prevent
him from devoting the appropriate time to Reed Elsevier.  His wide ranging media
experience has benefitted us in many ways and we thank Strauss for his
contribution.

'Rolf has been an invaluable member of the Reed Elsevier Boards since 1999 and
we are particularly grateful that he has agreed to stay on until the next AGMs.'

                                    - Ends -

Enquiries:  Patrick Kerr [phone]


Notes to editors


Reed Elsevier is a world leading publisher and information provider.  It is
owned equally by its two parent companies, Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier
NV.  The parent companies are listed on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock
Exchanges, under the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New
York: RUK and ENL.  In 2006, Reed Elsevier made adjusted profit before taxation
of £1,052 million on turnover of £5,398 million.  The group employs 37,000
people, including approximately 20,000 in North America. Operating in the
scientific, legal, educational and business-to-business sectors, Reed Elsevier
provides high value and flexible information solutions to professional end
users, with increasing emphasis on internet delivery.


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