Directorate Change

Smiths Group PLC
21 September 2004



News Release

London, 21 September 2004

For immediate release



Smiths Group announces changes to Board positions



Smiths Group today announces the appointment of Peter Jackson as senior
independent director.

Mr. Jackson, chief executive of Associated British Foods plc, has been a
non-executive director of Smiths since December 2003.



Smiths Group also confirms the appointment of David Challen CBE as a
non-executive director of the Company with effect from 21 September 2004.  An
announcement anticipating his appointment was made on 28 May 2004. Mr Challen is
a non-executive director of Anglo American plc and in the past five years has
been a director of AWG plc and Thomson Travel Group plc, which during his period
of office were publicly quoted.*  He owns 2000 ordinary shares of 25p in Smiths
Group plc.


Mr Challen succeeds Sir Colin Chandler as chairman of the Audit Committee with
immediate effect.



Finally, in line with previous announcements, and also with effect from 21
September 2004, Donald Brydon CBE becomes Chairman of Smiths Group, on the
retirement from the Board of Keith Orrell-Jones.



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





                                    - Ends -

Contacts
Business & Financial Press          Bernard Carey       [phone]
                                    Caroline Harris     [phone]

Investor Relations                  Russell Plumley     [phone]



*There is no other information which requires disclosure under paragraphs 16.4
and 16.5 or under sub-paragraphs (b) to (g) of paragraph 6.F.2 of The Listing
Rules of the UK Listing Authority.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange