The world's leading premium drinks business, Diageo plc, announced on March 30 the appointment of Dr Franz B Humer, Chairman and CEO of Roche, to the Diageo board, effective 1 April 2005. His appointment brings to seven the number of Diageo's independent non-executive directors. He will be appointed to the Audit Committee, Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee.

Commenting on the appointment, Lord Blyth said: 'Franz is a highly respected international businessman and brings a variety of highly relevant complementary skills and experience. We are delighted to welcome him to the Diageo board.'

Diageo's chairman is James Blyth. Other non-executive directors are: Lord Hollick (Senior Independent Director and chairman of the Remuneration Committee), Maria Lilja, William Shanahan, Jonathan Symonds (chairman of the Audit Committee), Todd Stitzer and Paul Walker. Executive members of the board are Paul Walsh (CEO), Nick Rose (CFO).

Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business. With its global vision, and local marketing focus, Diageo brings to consumers an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across the spirits, wine and beer categories including Smirnoff, Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Baileys, J&B, Cuervo, Captain Morgan and Tanqueray, and Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines. Diageo trades in some 180 countries around the world and is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). Diageo had a market capitalisation of c. £22.6 billion as of the close of business of the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday, 29 March 2005.

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a supplier of innovative products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people’s health and quality of life. Roche is a world leader in diagnostics, the leading supplier of medicines for cancer and transplantation and a market leader in virology. In 2004 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totalled 21.7 billion Swiss francs, while the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 7.8 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly 65,000 people in 150 countries and has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai.

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