New Non-Executive Director

RNS Number:3611U
Venture Production PLC
19 January 2004


19 January, 2004

                             VENTURE PRODUCTION plc
                   ("Venture", "the Company" or "the Group")

                  Venture Appoints New Non-Executive Director


With effect from 15 January 2004 Mark Nicholls joins the Board of Venture
Production plc as Senior Independent Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chairman.
In addition, he will chair the Venture Audit Committee and be a member of the
Remuneration Committee.

Mark has broad experience at board level and since 1997 has been a Non-Executive
Director of Bovis Homes Group plc, where he chairs the Audit Committee. He is
also a Non-Executive Director of Portman Building Society and The City of London
Investment Trust plc and was recently appointed as Protector of The National
Lottery Fair Share Fund.

His early career was spent with S.G. Warburg & Co Ltd. where he became Head of
Corporate Finance and a main board director of S.G. Warburg Group Plc. He
qualified as a Solicitor with Linklaters in 1974. More recently, his extensive
knowledge of the financial market place has been utilised at Royal Bank of
Scotland Group, where he was Deputy Chairman of RBS Equity Finance.

Commenting on the news, John Morgan, Chairman of Venture Production said:

"We are delighted that Mark has agreed to join the Board of Venture and look
forward to benefiting from the broad experience he will bring."

A list of all Directorships held by Mark Nicholls within the last five years is
given below. There are no further disclosures to be made in relation to Mr
Nicholls under paragraphs 6.F.2 (b)-(g) of the Listing Rules.

                                      ENDS


Contact:

Bruce Dingwall, Chief Executive 01224 619000
Patrick Handley, Brunswick 020 7404 5959


Notes:
Mark Nicholls studied Law at Cambridge University and later gained an MBA in
Finance at City University Business School. He is aged 54.

Mr. Nicholls is currently or has been a Director of the following companies and
organisations within the last five years:

Current
Portman Building Society
Non-Executive Director

Bovis Homes Group Plc
Non-Executive Director, Chairman of the Audit Committee

The City of London Investment Trust Plc
Non-Executive Director

The City of London European Trust Ltd
Non-Executive Director

The City of London Finance Company Ltd
Non-Executive Director

City of London Investments Ltd
Non-Executive Director

MACA (The Mental After Care Association)
Non-Executive Director

MACA Trading Ltd
Non-Executive Director

Save the Baby (Charity)
Non-Executive Director

Within the last five years
Ambion Brick Company Ltd
Bovis Homes Ltd
Clifton House Acquisition Ltd
CNW Nominees Ltd
Expamet International Ltd
Flow Industries Ltd
Natwest Finance Ltd
Natwest Ventures Investments Ltd
RBDC Administrator Ltd
RBDC General Partner Ltd
RBDC Investments Ltd
RBDC (Ireland) Ltd
RBDC Parallel Nominees Ltd
RBEF Ltd
RBS Investment Ltd
Royal Bank Development Capital Ltd
Royal Bank Development Ltd
Royal Bank Investments Ltd
Royal Bank Project Investments Ltd
Royal Bank Ventures Ltd
Royal Bank Ventures Investments Ltd


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END
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