Directorate Change

Smiths Group PLC
31 March 2004

News Release

London, 31 March 2004

For immediate release

Smiths Group appoints Donald Brydon as chairman designate.



Smiths Group today announced the appointment of Donald Brydon to the Board as
non-executive director and chairman designate. His non-executive appointment
will be effective from 19 April 2004. Mr.Brydon will succeed current Chairman,
Keith Orrell-Jones, on his retirement from the position on 21 September 2004.



Commenting on his appointment, Mr.Brydon said; 'I am delighted to be joining
Smiths with its exciting technologies and world leading market positions. I look
forward to working with Keith Butler-Wheelhouse and his experienced team and to
continuing the implementation of an orderly succession plan over the next five
years. '



Mr.Butler-Wheelhouse, Smiths Group chief executive said; ' I am pleased to
welcome Donald as chairman designate. His broad experience of business and his
city knowledge will complement the skills of the existing Board. Donald's
excellent leadership capabilities will help us to take the company through its
next phase of growth, generated by investment in new technology, new markets and
acquisitions.'



In recognition of the current Chairman's contribution he added; ' Keith
Orrell-Jones has taken Smiths through a difficult transition period which has
seen us double in size and take up a position in the FTSE 100, as Britain's
leading specialist engineering company. I feel sure all shareholders, customers
and employees will join me in thanking Keith for his unstinting service and
valuable contribution.'  Mr. Orrell-Jones became Chairman in November 1998,
having joined the Board as a non-executive in 1992.



Smiths Group designs and manufactures safety critical systems and products, and
has market leading positions in aerospace systems, detection systems, medical
devices, mechanical seals, and interconnect products. For further information,
visit www.smiths-group.com





Enquiries:

Media: Bernard Carey: 020 8457 8403    Investors: Russell Plumley 020 8457 8203

       Caroline Harris:020 8457 8306







Notes for Editors.



Donald Brydon C.B.E.



Donald Brydon is Chairman of Amersham plc, the London Metal Exchange, and AXA
Investment Managers SA of which he was also chief executive from 1997-2002.



Graduating in Mathematical Science from the University of Edinburgh in 1967, he
continued his association with the University in the Department of Economics in
the roles of research associate and tutor until 1970. From 1970 to 1977 he was
an analyst and senior fund manager with the (British) Airways Pension Scheme.



Mr.Brydon joined the AXA group in April 1997 after a 20-year career with the
Barclays group, during which he built the group's investment arm, now BGI,
becoming chairman and chief executive of BZW Investment Management and latterly
acting chief executive of BZW.



He is a director of Allied Domecq plc and Scottish Power plc.



He is chairman of the Code Committee of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (UK),
deputy Chairman of the Financial Services Practitioner Panel and a member of the
Market Participants Advisory Panel at CESR.



He is Chairman of EveryChild, the international children's development charity.



In 2004, Donald Bryson was awarded a C.B.E. for services to the financial
industry.




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