Non-Exec Director Appointment

Reed Elsevier PLC
22 March 2007




                                  NEWS RELEASE

           Issued on behalf of Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV


For immediate release                                             22 March 2007

 Reed Elsevier Announces Appointment of Robert Polet as Non-Executive Director

Reed Elsevier has today announced that Robert Polet has been proposed for
election as a Non-Executive Director of Reed Elsevier PLC and as a member of the
Supervisory Board of Reed Elsevier NV at the respective Annual General Meetings
on 17 and 18 April 2007.

Cees van Lede will retire after four years of service as a non-executive
director of Reed Elsevier PLC and a member of the Supervisory Board of Reed
Elsevier NV at the conclusion of the respective Annual General Meetings.

Mr Polet, aged 51, brings with him nearly three decades of global management
experience, strong marketing skills and a deep knowledge of the development of
brands. Since July 2004 he has been President and Chief Executive Officer of
Gucci Group. Prior to joining Gucci Group, Mr Polet spent 26 years at Unilever
working in a variety of marketing and senior executive positions throughout the
world including President of Unilever's Worldwide Ice Cream and Frozen Foods
division.

Mr Polet, a Dutch national, studied business administration at Nijenrode in the
Netherlands and earned an MBA from the University of Oregon, USA.

Jan Hommen, Chairman of Reed Elsevier, comments: 'Robert Polet's extensive
marketing skills and a record of entrepreneurial leadership will be of great
value to Reed Elsevier's strategic development. We are delighted to recommend
his appointment to our AGMs next month.

'We would also like to thank Cees van Lede for the significant contribution and
wise counsel provided during his four year period at Reed Elsevier.'

There are no further matters to be disclosed under LR 9.6.13R of the Listing
Rules of the UK Listing Authority.

                                    - ENDS -

For further information

Patrick Kerr : [phone]


Notes to editors

Reed Elsevier is a world leading publisher and information provider. It is owned
equally by its two parent companies, Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The
parent companies are listed on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock
Exchanges, under the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New
York: RUK and ENL. In 2006, Reed Elsevier made adjusted profit before taxation
of £1,052 million on turnover of £5,398 million. The group employs 37,000
people, including approximately 20,000 in North America. Operating in the
scientific, legal, educational and business-to-business sectors, Reed Elsevier
provides high value and flexible information solutions to professional end
users, with increasing emphasis on internet delivery.



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