Financial News

BURBERRY APPOINTS BRIAN BLAKE WORLDWIDE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

07 MAY 2004

Burberry Group plc, today, announced the appointment of Brian Blake to the post of Worldwide President and Chief Operating Officer, effective 1st June, 2004. Reporting directly to Burberry Chief Executive Rose Marie Bravo, Brian's responsibilities will include global oversight of the Company's wholesale, retail, licensing and manufacturing operations. He will also be a member of the Burberry Executive Committee along with Rose Marie Bravo and Chief Financial Officer Stacey Cartwright.

Brian, 48, joins Burberry from the Gucci Group where he has held the position of Executive Vice President since October 2002. In his 17-year tenure with the Gucci Group, he has had vast international experience across all business disciplines and throughout all regions including Japan, Asia and the emerging markets. He has held positions of increasing responsibility and geographic scope starting with the Gucci Division and moving up to his most recent senior level group post. His positions at Gucci have included: President and Chief Executive of Gucci Group Watches worldwide with a simultaneous post at the group's Boucheron Division, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Gucci Division worldwide, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Merchandising and Sales of the Gucci Division worldwide, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gucci America. Prior to this, Brian spent 10 years at U.S. specialty retailer Lord & Taylor in merchandising and store management positions.

Commenting on the appointment, Burberry Chief Executive Rose Marie Bravo said, "I am delighted that Brian is joining me and the team at Burberry at this important juncture in the company's development. His extensive international experience, in depth understanding of the luxury market and successful track record for driving performance, sales and profit brings added dimension to the proven strength of our team and our strategy. I look forward to working with Brian to take Burberry to its next level, explore new growth initiatives and maximise the tremendous potential that this business represents."

Brian Blake commented, "Burberry has such a strong foundation to build upon and such a compelling strategy in place. It is exciting for me to have the opportunity to work with Rose Marie Bravo and the team to continue the momentum and challenge the business through its next phases of growth and development."

Burberry, founded in 1856 and listed on the London Stock Exchange, is headquartered in London.

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