RNS Number:1235S
Imperial Tobacco Group PLC
17 November 2003

IMPERIAL TOBACCO ANNOUNCES NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT



Imperial Tobacco Group PLC is pleased to announce the appointment of David
Thursfield as a Non-Executive Director of the Company, effective from 17
November 2003.

Mr. Thursfield, 58, has spent more than 25 years in the automotive industry and
is Executive Vice President, Ford Motor Company, and President, International
Operations and Global Purchasing.  In this role he oversees the company's
Premier Automotive Group, Mazda Motor Company, Ford of Europe, Ford Asia Pacific
Operations and Global Purchasing organizations.

Derek Bonham, Imperial Tobacco Group Chairman, said:

"We are delighted to welcome David to the Board.   David has a distinguished
track record and brings tremendous international experience to the business,
particularly in the area of manufacturing.   We look forward to benefiting from
his expertise as we seek to continue to improve productivity and drive
operational efficiencies across the Group."

Mr. Thursfield joined Ford Motor Company in 1979 as Plant Manager of the
Broadmeadows Car Assembly Plant in Australia, after working as a plant manager
with British Leyland.   He has had senior management responsibility for plants
in North America, Europe, South America and Australia.   He earned degrees in
production engineering from Aston University in Birmingham, England, in 1965,
and in industrial psychology from Brunel University in 1968.



ENQUIRIES


Alex Parsons, Group Media Relations Manager                               +44 (0) 7967 467 241

Nicola Tate, Investor Relations Manager                                   +44 (0) 117 933 7082

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC                                                +44 (0) 117 963 6636





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