RNS Number:8339K
Ashley (Laura) Hldgs PLC
08 May 2003

8 May 2003

                  Laura Ashley Holdings plc ("the Company")
                      Announcement of Board Changes

Laura Ashley today announces that KC Ng has resigned as Chief Executive Officer
of the Company with effect from 1st June 2003. He will, however, remain on the
Board as a Non-Executive Director.  The Board has appointed Ms Ainum Mohd-Saaid
as a director with immediate effect.  Ms Ainum Mohd-Saaid and Ms Rebecca
Annapillai Navarednam have been appointed joint Chief Executive Officers (CEOs)
with effect from 1 June 2003.

The new joint CEOs bring considerable experience to the Company.  Ainum
Mohd-Saaid (aged 57) is a senior lawyer who has held the position of Attorney
General in Malaysia and has also held the position of Executive Director/Chief
Operating Officer of a successful retail fashion group in that country.  Rebecca
Navarednam (aged 56) is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants in England and Wales. She was General Manager of a leading bank in
Malaysia and has held the position of Chief Financial Officer at Corus and Regal
Hotel Group plc.

Commenting on these changes, Dr Khoo, Chairman of Laura Ashley said:

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank KC Ng for his contribution to
Laura Ashley during a difficult time in its evolution."

"We have chosen to split the CEO's role because of the unique skills that the
new joint holders of this position bring to the Company.  Their roles will be
distinct, with clear lines of reporting within the business, and I am confident
that this structure will allow us to accelerate our strategy as a successful
retailer in the UK and a franchisor and licensor of the Laura Ashley brand in
the rest of the world"

Enquiries:

David Walton Masters         Non-Executive Deputy Chairman,        020 7404 5959
                             Laura Ashley                          (8 May only)

Tom Buchanan /               Brunswick                             020 7404 5959
Katya Reynier

Notes To Editors:

Biographies of both Ainum Mohd-Saaid and Rebecca Navarednam are attached to this
release.

An interview with David Walton Masters, non-Executive Deputy Chairman of Laura
Ashley Holdings plc, in video/audio and text will be available from 07:00 on
Thursday 8 May on: http://www.lauraashley.com and on http://www.cantos.com

Biographies:

Ainum Mohd-Saaid

Ainum, aged 57 years is an LL.B (Hons) Graduate of the University of Singapore,
and an LL.M (Magna Cum Laude) Graduate of the University of Brussels.

Ainum was the Treasury Solicitor for the Malaysian Federal Treasury before she
was seconded to World Bank as Counsel of  their Legal Department.  In the
private sector, she was the Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer of
Metrojaya Berhad, a successful retail fashion group listed on the Kuala Lumpur
Stock Exchange, before she was appointed Deputy Chief Executive of the
Securities Commission, Malaysia.  Ainum then went on to become the Attorney
General of Malaysia.  In the UK, she has held the position of Chief Legal
Advisor for both Laura Ashley Holdings plc and Corus & Regal Hotels plc.

Rebecca Annapillai Navarednam

Rebecca, aged 56, is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants
in England & Wales and an Associate member of the Institute of Cost & Management
Accountants.  She started her career as a Chief Internal Auditor in the Bank of
Commerce Berhad, a Malaysian Bank, where she rose to the position of Assistant
General Manager.  She then joined Sime Bank Berhad, another Malaysian Bank as a
General Manager. In the UK, Rebecca has held the position of Chief Financial
Officer with Corus and Regal Hotels plc.


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

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