Appointment

Aortech International PLC
18 January 2001

                          AorTech International plc

                             Senior Appointments

AorTech International plc, the Scottish-based manufacturer of cardio-vascular
devices, announces the appointments of two key personnel Mr Graham McKay as
Director of Development and Mr Paul Burns as Director of Quality Assurance and
Regulatory Affairs. Both of these individuals are key senior appointments to
the Board of Directors of AorTech's subsidiary companies with excellent track
records and long experience in their specific fields.

These appointments will take effect from the end of February 2001. Mr Graham
McKay is aged 47 and is Director of New Product Development with SSL
International and has a Phd in Materials Science specialising in Polymers and
Fibres. Mr McKay has 20 years experience in the Medical Device Industry with a
strong technical background in biomaterials and prior to his position with SSL
International was previously Country Manager and Manager of new technologies
with Johnson & Johnson Medical Limited.

Mr Paul Burns is 43 years of age, has a MsC in Bioengineering and graduate
diploma in Quality Management. He is presently Quality Assurance and
Regulatory Affairs Manager for Sulzer VascuTech Limited, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Sulzer Medica. Mr Burns career has been built within the Medical
Device and Pharmaceutical Industry and he has been responsible for compliance
with European Medical Device Directives and the FDA Quality System
Regulations. Prior to his position with Sulzer VascuTech, Mr Burns held a
Senior Quality position in Melbourne with SCL Limited, Australia's largest
pharmaceutical corporation.

Eddie McDaid, AorTech's Managing Director said:

'The appointments of both Graham McKay and Paul Burns signifies the continued
strengthening of AorTech's senior management team as our plans to introduce
and implement the new technologies and products which AorTech are developing.
Both Graham and Paul, as Directors of our subsidiary companies, will provide
additional expertise and support for the continued growth of AorTech over the
ensuing years'.

                                                               18 January 2001

Enquiries:

AorTech International plc                          Tel: [phone]
Eddie McDaid, Managing Director

Bell Lawrie White & Co.                            Tel: [phone]
Clive Thomson / Elizabeth Kennedy

College Hill                                       Tel: [phone]
Michael Padley / Nicholas Nelson