Directorate Change

Sainsbury(J) PLC
19 November 2003

Sainsbury's appoints new Group Chief Executive

J Sainsbury plc has announced the appointment of Justin King (42) as group chief
executive on 29 March 2004 succeeding Sir Peter Davis, who takes over as
chairman on Sir George Bull's retirement at that time.

Peter Davis, Sainsbury's group chief executive, said, 'Justin's early training
with Mars and his food retailing experience with value oriented ASDA and quality
focussed Marks and Spencer makes him the ideal candidate for Sainsbury's. Justin
identifies with our trading strengths and, in an increasingly competitive
market, has the talent and experience to drive our business forward on a greatly
modernised and improved infrastructure.'

Sir George Bull, Sainsbury's non-executive chairman led the selection process
through the nomination committee.   He said, 'We instigated a thorough search
nationally and internationally through Whitehead Mann, a leading executive
search agency, and have considered a number of suitable candidates.   In the
final stage the non-executive directors were unanimous in selecting Justin King
from a short-list of very well qualified and experienced candidates.'

Justin King said 'After 20 years in the grocery industry I know the special role
Sainsbury's has for millions of customers.   I'm delighted to be given the
opportunity to lead the next stage of Sainsbury's development and look forward
to the challenge.'

The nomination committee will now identify a new non-executive deputy chairman
by April 2004 available to succeed Peter Davis as chairman in July 2005.

For enquiries:

Investor Relations:
Roger Matthews
Lynda Ashton               [phone]

Media:
Jan Shawe
Pip Wood                    [phone]

Notes

 1. Justin King is currently a director of Marks and Spencer plc, executive
    director in charge of its food division and has responsibility for Kings
    Supermarkets in the US. He spent 7 years at ASDA, where he became managing
    director of hypermarkets, and has previous experience in sales and marketing
    with Haagen-Dazs, Pepsi Cola International and Mars. He has a degree in
    business administration from Bath University.

 2. Mr King's base salary will be £675k and he will be enrolled in Sainsbury's
    annual bonus scheme and other approved executive share schemes.
    Arrangements have also been made to compensate him for his losses arising
    from M&S' share and bonus schemes.   This takes the form of restricted
    shares totalling £685k to be released in two tranches in July 2005 and 2006.

 3. Sir George Bull led the search for the new group chief executive, working
    with five non-executive directors and Sir Peter Davis, who together make up
    the nomination committee.

 4. In view of the requirements of Higgs and the Combined Code, the board
    consulted nearly 60% of the shareholder base, including family shareholders,
    on its plans.   It proposed that Peter Davis should take on the role of
    chairman on 29 March 2004 for an interim period, with a new independent
    deputy chairman appointed at the same time, available to take over as
    chairman in July 2005. These arrangements were put to the Annual General
    Meeting this July and were backed by the overwhelming majority of
    shareholders.



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