Appointment of new Chairman

Gooch & Housego PLC
04 September 2006


For Immediate Release                                           4 September 2006




                              Gooch & Housego PLC


                          Appointment of new Chairman


Gooch & Housego PLC, the specialist manufacturer of optical components and
systems, today announces that Dr Julian Blogh will be joining the board as
non-executive Chairman with effect from 1st October 2006.


Dr Blogh, aged 62, has a strong track record and background in the defence
electronics industry. He led the management buy-out of seven Dowty defence and
aerospace electronics businesses from the TI Group to form Ultra Electronics in
1993, where he was Chief Executive. In 2004, he was appointed Deputy Chairman
and became Chairman a year later, a position he continues to hold.


Dr Blogh will be the first independent Chairman of Gooch & Housego PLC, and
takes over from Gareth Jones, Chief Executive Officer, who has been Acting
Chairman since Mr Gooch stepped down in February 2005 due to ill health.


Dr Blogh is a director of Ultra Electronics Holdings plc.


There are no other disclosures required under Schedule Two (g) of the AIM rules.


Gareth Jones, Chief Executive of Gooch & Housego, commented:


'I would like to welcome Dr Blogh, who joins the Board at a very exciting time
for Gooch & Housego. Dr Blogh's extensive experience of developing a high
technology business in an international, publicly-quoted environment will be
invaluable to Gooch & Housego PLC as it seeks to implement its growth strategy
in the coming years and we look forward to working with him.'


Dr Blogh, commented:


'I am pleased to be joining Gooch & Housego PLC at such an interesting time and
I look forward to being able to contribute to the ongoing success of the
company.'



Contacts:  Gareth Jones, Chief Executive Officer, 01460 52271
           Tim Thompson / Nicola Cronk, Buchanan Communications 020 7466
           5000


Notes to Editors:


Gooch & Housego is a manufacturer of acousto-optic and electro-optic devices,
precision optical components, crystals, optical instruments and imaging systems.
Based in Ilminster, UK, it has operations in the UK, USA and Germany. In several
of its activities Gooch & Housego is considered a world leader. The Queen's
Award for Enterprise: International Trade was conferred upon the UK business
earlier this year.


In the last twelve months, Gooch & Housego has embarked on several major
initiatives: -

   •A £5m construction project to build a new factory and headquarters
    building in Ilminster, UK. These facilities will double the space available
    for manufacturing, R&D and administration when completed next year.
   •The development of a range of advanced spectral imaging systems targeted
    at applications in biomedical and pharmaceutical research and medical
    diagnostics - an entirely new market sector for the group.
   •A internal reorganisation aimed at coordinating manufacturing,
    development, sales and marketing activities across four locations.




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