Directorate Change

Evolution Group PLC 26 May 2005 26 May 2005 Evolution Group Plc - Directorate Change At today's Annual General Meeting of Evolution Group plc ('Evolution'), the listed investment bank and retail fund management group, the Group's founding Executive Chairman, Richard Griffiths, announced the following Board changes: 'Following our entry to the FTSE 250 last year I was delighted that Lord MacLaurin of Knebworth accepted my invitation to join the board as our senior non-executive director. At my request Lord MacLaurin subsequently undertook a review of the board structure to ensure that Evolution is fully equipped to take the business to the next stage of its development, and the changes we are announcing today reflect the outcome of that review. As a result Martin Gray will be appointed, with immediate effect, as Non-Executive Chairman. Martin is a former director of NatWest Bank Group plc and has over 40 years' experience in the UK financial services industry. I will remain an Executive Director of Evolution, and will assume the title of President. In this role I will focus on key client relationships and business development and will report to the Group's Chief Executive, Alex Snow. 'It is now four years since I led the creation of Evolution, and in that time the Group has developed faster and more successfully than I had imagined possible when we started. 'My new role enables me to continue to add significant value to Evolution's development. Lord MacLaurin and I have put a lot of effort into ensuring that this move works in the best interests of the company and all its stakeholders, and I am sure that Martin Gray will be an excellent chairman for Evolution.' Lord MacLaurin added: 'In today's environment the successful running of a PLC board requires a non-executive chairman, with a clear understanding of his company's area of business, and the time and appetite to commit to this demanding role. I am confident that Martin Gray's senior PLC board experience, and his deep understanding of the banking and financial services industries and their regulatory environments, make him the ideal candidate to perform this role at Evolution. We now have a normalised board structure, with a non-executive Chairman in charge of the Board, and a Chief Executive who is responsible for all aspects of the Group's businesses.' Mr.Gray said: 'I was delighted to accept the Board's invitation to become Evolution's new Chairman. The Group has achieved remarkable success in a short space of time, and has created considerable value for shareholders. I look forward to helping maintain that record over the coming years.' Martin Gray FCIB: Aged 58, Martin Gray spent over 36 years with the NatWest Bank Group. From 1992-98 he was Chief Executive of NatWest UK, and from 1993-99 he was a Group Board Member of NatWest Group PLC. In his operational role in charge of the Group's UK businesses he was responsible for assets of over £100 bn, annual revenues of nearly £5 bn, annual profits of approx. £1 bn, and over 55,000 staff. Mr.Gray also was a member of the Global Board of Mastercard Inc. from 1993-96, and was a director of Visa Europe from 1996-99. He is currently a non-executive director of National Savings and Investments and Miller Insurance Group. No further details regarding Martin Gray are required to be disclosed to comply with Rule 16.4 of the Listing Rules. ENDS Enquiries: The Evolution Group Plc 020 7071 4300 Alex Snow, Chief Executive Graeme Dell, Finance Director Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial 020 7861 3232 Charles Cook Sarah Landgrebe This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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