Released: 31/05/2002

Russell Walls has been appointed as a non-executive director of Signet Group plc with effect from 1 August 2002. Mr Walls (58) has been Group Finance Director at BAA plc since 1995, a post from which he retires in July 2002.

Since 1996 Mr Walls has been a non-executive director of Hilton Group plc where he is the senior independent director, chaired the Audit Committee until last year and is currently Chairman of its Remuneration Committee. Hilton Group is a global company operating in the hospitality and betting markets with the leading brand names of Hilton and Ladbroke.

Mr Walls has also, since June 2000, been a non-executive director of Stagecoach Group PLC, and Chairman of its Audit Committee. Stagecoach is one of the world's biggest bus, coach and rail groups and operates internationally, including in the UK and the USA.

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	+44 (0) 20 7399 9520
	Mike Smith, Brunswick	+44 (0) 20 7404 5959

Signet, the world's largest specialist jewellery retailer operates 1,639 stores. These include 1,035 stores in the US, where the Group trades as "Kay Jewelers", "Jared - The Galleria Of Jewelry" and under a number of regional names and 604 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