Date: 14th May 2002 Reference: 046/02 Board Changes Pilkington plc: Philip Webb Tel: 01744 692184 The Board of Pilkington plc today announces its intention to appoint Stuart Chambers, Pilkington Executive Director and President of Building Products Worldwide, as Group Chief Executive following yesterday's announcement by the Italian Treasury Ministry that it is proposing to appoint Paolo Scaroni to the Board of Enel, Italy's largest integrated electricity group. It is also Pilkington's intention to appoint Paolo Scaroni as Non-Executive Deputy Chairman of Pilkington plc. He will retain his entire shareholding in Pilkington plc. These new appointments will become effective upon approval of the Italian Treasury Ministry's proposal by the Board and shareholders of Enel at its shareholder meeting on 24 May 2002. Over the last five years, Pilkington has achieved a significant Step Change in its productivity and efficiency, and now ranks among the world's leading glass companies. Central to the success of the Step Change programme has been the reorganisation of the Group into two global business lines - Building Products and Automotive Products - and a significant strengthening of its management in each of these areas. Following this reorganisation and the resultant elimination of Pilkington's geographic reporting structure, the position of President, Automotive Worldwide and President of Pilkington North America will cease to exist. As a consequence, Warren Knowlton will leave the Group at the AGM on 30 July 2002. Pat Zito will assume responsibility for Pilkington's Automotive OE business worldwide (which accounts for 80% of the Automotive division's sales) and will be appointed to the Pilkington Board. The current managers responsible for all Pilkington's Building Products and AGR businesses will report directly to Pilkington's new Chief Executive, Stuart Chambers. Sir Nigel Rudd, Chairman of Pilkington plc, said: "We are enormously appreciative of the significant transformation that Paolo has achieved at Pilkington. In five years he and his senior team have transformed the Group from a loose confederation of under-performing glass businesses into a world leader in glass manufacturing with a strong management team. Stuart Chambers has worked closely with Paolo during the process, playing an integral part in the transformation, and the Board is delighted that he has agreed to become Group Chief Executive." Paolo Scaroni, Group Chief Executive of Pilkington plc, commented: "Only an opportunity of this scale would persuade me to relinquish my position as Pilkington Group Chief Executive. As Deputy Chairman and a major shareholder in Pilkington, I will continue to actively participate in the successful future development of the Group." Enquiries: Sir Nigel Rudd, Chairman Pilkington plc - 020 7747 6000 Paolo Scaroni, Chief Executive Iain Lough, Finance Director - 01744 692244 Rupert Younger Finsbury - 020 7251 3801 Charlotte Festing Notes to Editor As previously stated, Pilkington will announce its Results for the year ended 31st March 2002 on Wednesday 29th May 2002. Stuart Chambers was appointed to the Pilkington Board in January 2001 having become President of Building Products Worldwide the previous year. He joined the Group in 1996 as Group Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, Building Products before becoming General Manager, Commercial Operations for Pilkington UK in 1997. In 1998 he was promoted to the position of Managing Director, Primary Products, Europe. He has played a pivotal role in the transformation of Pilkington's European Building Products business and the subsequent growth developments within the Building Products division. Pat Zito joined Pilkington in 1985 as Finance Director of Pilkington ACI (now Pilkington Australasia). He was appointed Finance Director of SIV in 1994 and General Manager in 1995, when Pilkington assumed full ownership of that company. He was appointed President, Pilkington Automotive OE Europe in 1997 and in October 2001 became President, Pilkington Automotive OE Europe & North America. He has been responsible for the integration and restructuring of Pilkington's European automotive OE operations and the creation of a pan-European business. Subsequently he has merged the European and North American OE businesses into a single business. Ends