Appointment

Johnson,Matthey PLC
13 December 2001


                         For release at 12 noon on Thursday 13th December 2001


             JOHNSON MATTHEY APPOINTS NEW NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Johnson Matthey plc announces the appointment of Ian Strachan as a
non-executive director of the company. He will join the board in January 2002.


Mr Strachan is currently a director of Reuters Group plc, Transocean Sedco
Forex Inc., Instinet Group Inc., and Harsco Corporation. Previously, he was
Deputy Chairman of Invensys Plc, Chief Executive of BTR plc and prior to that,
Deputy Chief Executive of Rio Tinto plc.


Commenting on this appointment, Michael Miles, Chairman of Johnson Matthey
said:


 'I am very pleased to welcome Ian Strachan to the board of Johnson Matthey as
a non-executive director. He has a strong international background in a wide
range of industrial sectors. We look forward to benefiting from his
considerable experience.'


Enquiries:

Ian Godwin, Group Corporate Communications Manager            020 7269 8410
Howard Lee, Gavin Anderson & Co                               020 7457 2345