Directorate Change

Wolseley PLC
21 July 2003


                                  NEWS RELEASE
                                  21 July 2003

                                  Wolseley plc
                        Board Appointment of CEO Europe


Wolseley plc, the world's largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing,
heating and building materials products is pleased to announce the Board
appointment of Gerard Legtmann as Chief Executive Officer Europe with effect
from 15 August 2003. This is a newly created position with responsibility for
all the European businesses.

Gerard Legtmann, who is 40, was born in Austria and in addition to his native
German, speaks English, French and Italian. He was most recently President and
CEO of Brambles Equipment Group, based in Chicago, and Chairman of Brambles,
Americas. As a member of Brambles Group Executive Committee, Gerard was
responsible for Brambles' equipment rental business on a global basis. The
business had revenues of $1 billion and a presence in 250 locations throughout
the USA, Europe, Australia and Asia. Prior to Brambles, Gerard held senior
positions in ABB and in General Electric where he was President General
Electric, Austria.

Charlie Banks, Group Chief Executive of Wolseley said:

'Wolseley has made enormous progress in developing the group's European
Distribution businesses over the past few years through acquisition and organic
growth. We have a presence in ten European countries which provides the
foundation on which an integrated European business can be further developed by
bringing these national businesses closer together operationally and also in
building the business going forward. Gerard is the right man to drive this
process as he brings with him an outstanding track record in managing
international businesses. We are delighted to have him on board to lead our
European strategy.'

There are no matters relating to Mr Legtmann which would require disclosure
under paragraph 6.F.2(b) to (g) of the Listing Rules.


FURTHER INFORMATION:

Wolseley plc                                Brunswick Group Ltd
Tel: [phone]                          Tel: [phone]

Steve Webster - Group Finance Director      Andrew Fenwick
Guy Stainer - Head of Investor Relations    Sophie Fitton


Notes to Editors

Wolseley is the world's largest distributor of plumbing and heating equipment
and a market leading distributor of building materials in the UK and USA to
professional contractors. Group sales for the year ended 31 July 2002 were
approximately £8 billion and operating profit, before goodwill, was
£464 million. Sales in the European Distribution business were £2.5 billion with
an operating profit, before goodwill amortisation, of £171 million.

In the UK, Wolseley Centers is the leading plumbing and heating distributor with
nearly 1,300 locations. It is also a leading distributor of heavyside building
materials in the UK. In the year to 31 July 2002, it reported sales of £1.7
billion. It has approximately 9,700 employees and trades through four divisions,
which are shown below with the principal brand names:


Division                     Brand names

Lightside                    Plumb Center, Drainage Center, Broughton Crangrove, 
                             Heatmerchants, Just Bathrooms, Bathstore.com

Heavyside                    Builder Center, Hire Center, Timber Center

Commercial and Industrial    Pipeline Center, Controls Center, NRS, 
                             Capper Plastics

Spares                       HRPC, Wash-Vac Services, Hastings Catering, Unifix

In France, Brossette is the only national distributor of plumbing and heating
equipment and is the market leader with over 406 locations. In the year to
31 July 2002 it reported sales of €875 million (£603 million). It has
approximately 3,300 employees. PBM, acquired on 7 July 2003, is the second
largest heavyside distributor in France with a market share of just over 8% on a
national basis. Approximately 85% of PBM's business relates to the distribution
of building materials and 15% to the importation and distribution of timber. For
the year ended 31 December 2002, PBM reported sales of €1.3 billion (£897
million) and operating profit, before goodwill amortisation, of €72.3 million
(£49.9 million). It operates from approximately 300 locations in France,
including 22 timber import and processing units and has approximately 5,300
employees.

The Group's other European operations include: OAG in Austria, the Czech
Republic and Hungary; Manzardo, in Italy; CFM in Luxembourg; Wasco in the
Netherlands; Heatmerchants in Ireland; Electro-Oil in Denmark.


                                    - Ends -


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                  JJ