Directorate Change

Berkeley Berry Birch PLC
21 January 2003

For immediate release


                            Berkeley Berry Birch plc

                                 Board changes


London, 21st January 2003: Berkeley Berry Birch plc (BBB), the national
financial services distribution group whose shares are traded on the London
Stock Exchange, today announces the appointment of two new independent
non-executive Directors to the board.

Clifford P. Lockyer, Group Chief Executive, is delighted to announce the
appointment of Nicholas Davenport and Kevin Higginson.

Nicholas Davenport today joins the BBB board.  Mr. Davenport, aged 52, is a
Director of Greenhill International Insurance Holdings Ltd. He has considerable
experience in insurance broking and underwriting, both in the UK and in
continental Europe. He has spent the majority of his recent career as a Director
of Willis Corroon Ltd., and as Managing Director of the Willis Group's European
operations. He has also been a director of Well Marine Reinsurance Brokers Ltd
and DRJ Partners Ltd.

As Chairman of the BIPAR (Bureau International des Producteurs d'Assurances et
de Reassurances) EU Committee he negotiated the recent adoption of the Insurance
Mediation Directive on behalf of the industry. He has been Chairman of the LMBC
(Lloyd's Market Insurance Brokers' Committee) and a board member of the City
University Business School.

Kevin Higginson also joins the BBB board today.  Mr Higginson, aged 43, is Group
Finance Director of The BSS Group PLC.  He has considerable experience in the
areas of mergers and acquisitions having previously been a Group Finance
Director and Chief Executive of Hazlewood Foods PLC.  Mr Higginson trained and
qualified as a chartered accountant whilst at Pricewaterhouse and Spicer &
Pegler.

Commenting on the two new appointments, Clifford P. Lockyer, Group Chief
Executive, said, 'We are delighted with the addition of Nicholas and Kevin to
the board of BBB plc and believe that their experience and expertise will
provide important guidance to the executive team in implementing our strategic
plans over the next couple of years.'

In addition to these two new non-executive director appointments, BBB is also in
the final stages of selecting and appointing a new non-executive Chairman
following Sir Jeremy Black's retirement on 31st December 2002. BBB expects to be
in a position to announce further details in the near future.

Save as disclosed in this announcement, no matters set out in Chapter 16.4 of
the listing rules are required to be disclosed.


                                    ENDS


For further information please contact:


Berkeley Berry Birch plc
Stephen Ingledew, Group Deputy Chief Executive       07774 185 779

Grandfield
Matthew Jervois                                      020 7417 4175
Mani Venmans                                         020 7417 4113




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