Directorate Change

12 September 2014 FIRSTGROUP PLC ("FirstGroup") Chairman John McFarlane to step down at July 2015 AGM FirstGroup announces that John McFarlane will be stepping down from the role ofChairman at the Annual General Meeting in July 2015, as a condition of assumingthe Chairman's position at Barclays Plc announced this morning. "Barclays is grateful to Aviva and FirstGroup for agreeing to release MrMcFarlane to take on this important role. The appointment has been approved bythe Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority",Barclays said in its announcement. FirstGroup Senior Independent Director, Drummond Hall has begun the process toidentify a strong replacement for Mr McFarlane. He said: "It is unfortunatethat John will be unable to see his tenure through at FirstGroup, but we allunderstand the importance of the role at Barclays he has been asked to takeon". John McFarlane commented: "It is with regret that I must take the difficultstep of leaving FirstGroup so early in my tenure. I am, though, satisfied withthe progress we have made in appointing a strong Board of Directors, inachieving stability, in testing the business plan with the team, and inendorsing the way ahead and we will continue to build on this progress as we goforward. I am confident that we will appoint a highly qualified successor and Iwill work towards ensuring a seamless transition." Contacts FirstGroup:Rachael Borthwick, Group Corporate Communications DirectorTel: +44 (0)20 7291 0512 / +44 (0)7771 945432 Stuart Butchers, Group Media Relations ManagerTel: +44 (0) 20 7291 0507 / + + 44 (0)7713 317979 Brunswick PR:Michael Harrison/Andrew PorterTel: +44 (0) 20 7404 5959