Upcoming change of Chief Executive

Thursday 13 September 2012

Upcoming change of Chief Executive

Darty plc (formerly Kesa Electricals plc) today announces that its Chief Executive Thierry Falque-Pierrotin will leave the company by mutual agreement on completion of the review of the Group, its markets and operations in December 2012.

The Board is undertaking a search for his successor and will make an announcement in due course.

Alan Parker, Chairman of Darty plc, said:

"Whilst we still have much work to do, we have made good progress with the review of the Group, its markets and operations launched over the summer. We have already identified opportunities to both increase earnings and further rationalise costs across the Group.

"In the light of the changing shape and focus of the business, the Board and Thierry have agreed that on completion of the review, which he is part of, it is the right time to hand over to a new person.

"We thank him for his contribution through very challenging market conditions."

Thierry Falque-Pierrotin, Chief Executive of Darty plc, added:

"I will have greatly enjoyed leading Darty Group for the last four years. Thanks to renewed talented teams we have improved the positioning of our brands, successfully grown our internet channel and sharpened the internal processes. All together this provides the Group with a strong base for the future."

The Group has today also issued an Interim Management Statement.

Enquiries

Analysts

Darty plc

Simon Ward +44 (0) 20 7269 1400

Media

Simon Ward UK +44 (0) 20 7269 1400

Vinciane Beurlet France +33 (0) 1 43 18 52 00

Finsbury

Rollo Head +44 (0) 20 7251 3801

Jenny Davey

About Darty plc

Darty group is a leading cross channel service led electrical retailer operating nearly 500 stores in nine European countries and achieving 11% of its products sales on the web. With more than 16,500 people, it generates an annual turnover of over €4 billion through three operating segments: Darty (France), Other established businesses (which consists of Vanden Borre in Belgium, BCC in the Netherlands, and Datart in the Czech Republic and Slovakia), and Developing businesses (which consist of Darty Italy, Darty Spain and Darty Turkey). Its ordinary shares are listed with the UK Listing Authority and trade on the market for listed securities on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol DRTY.L. It is also listed on the Premier Marche of the Paris Stock Exchange.

For further information, please visit the company's website, www.dartygroup.com.