Directorate Change

RNS Number:7106O
Signet Group PLC
15 August 2003



Signet Group plc
(LSE: SIG and Nasdaq NMS:SIGY)


Embargoed until 12.00 Noon (BST)
15 August 2003


                   SIGNET APPOINTS NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dale Hilpert has been appointed as a non-executive director of Signet Group plc
with effect from 1 September 2003. Dale Hilpert (age 60) was Chief Executive of
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. from April 2001 until he retired in January 2003.
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the leading speciality retailer of homeware products in
the US.  As at February 2003 it operated 464 stores and had sales of $2,360.8
million.


Prior to joining Williams-Sonoma, Inc., Dale Hilpert was Chairman and Chief
Executive of Foot Locker, Inc. (formerly the Venator Group, Inc.).  Foot Locker,
Inc. is a leading retailer of athletic footwear and apparel, operating some
3,600 stores in 16 countries.  Dale joined the Venator Group, Inc. in 1995 as
President and Chief Operating Officer and in April 2000 became Chairman and
Chief Executive.  He participated in the complete restructuring of the Venator
Group into a focused athletic footwear and apparel retailer from a diverse
retailer with 48 operating divisions, with substantial operations in North
America, Europe and Australia.


From 1985 to 1995 Dale Hilpert was Chairman and Chief Executive of Payless Shoe
Source, a division of May Department Stores Company.  He joined Payless Shoe
Source in 1980 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.


James McAdam, Chairman, commented: "I welcome Dale Hilpert to the Board and I am
confident that his lengthy experience of US and international speciality
retailing will enable him to make a significant contribution to Signet."


There are no further matters to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph 16.4 of the
Listing Rules.


Enquiries:


Timothy Jackson, Company Secretary, Signet Group plc        [phone]
Tim Grey, Brunswick                                         [phone]



Signet, the world's largest speciality jewellery retailer operated 1,675 stores
at 2 August 2003.  These include 1,067 stores in the US, where the Group trades
as "Kay Jewelers", "Jared - The Galleria Of Jewelry" and under a number of
regional names and 602 stores in the UK, where the Group trades as "H.Samuel", 
"Ernest Jones" and "Leslie Davis". Further information on Signet is available at
www.signetgroupplc.com.

This release includes certain forward-looking information that is based upon
management's beliefs as well as on assumptions made by and data currently
available to management.  This information, which has been, or in the future may
be, included in reliance on the "safe harbor" provisions of the US Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, is subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties, including but not limited to the factors identified in the
Company's filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including its
2002/03 Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on April 24, 2003.
Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in such
forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear
that any projected results expressed or implied therein may not be realised.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.






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

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