Vesuvius Regulatory News (VSVS)

1 February 2010

COOKSON GROUP plc

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Cookson Group plc (the "Group"), the international materials science company, announces the following Board appointments:

Peter Hill

Peter Hill CBE, Chief Executive of Laird PLC, the global electronics and technology company, and currently a non-executive Director of Meggitt plc, is to join the Board as a non-executive Director with effect from today, 1 February 2010. He will join the Audit, Nominations and Remuneration Committees.

Peter joined Laird in 2001 and was appointed Chief Executive in 2002. He previously held senior management positions with BTR plc (subsequently Invensys plc), including Head of Strategic Planning, Director of Merger Integration and President, Invensys Air Systems. His early career was with international resources companies in Southern Africa and the UK, and he was subsequently an executive Director of Costain Group plc from 1992 to 1996. He was a non-executive Director of Oxford Instruments plc from 1999 to 2004, and a non-executive Board Member of UK Trade and Investment from 2005 to 2009.

Peter holds a BSc and an MBA, and is a Chartered Engineer. He was appointed CBE in the 2008 New Year's Honours List for services to the engineering industry.

There are no further disclosures required in respect of Mr Hill under paragraph 9.6.13 of the Listing Rules.

François Wanecq

François Wanecq is to join the Board as an executive Director with effect from today, 1 February 2010.

François is Chief Executive Officer of Cookson's Ceramics Division which trades under the Vesuvius and Foseco brand names, the Group's largest division. He has held this role since October 2005, and has led the successful integration of Foseco plc (acquired April 2008) into the Ceramics Division.

Prior to joining Cookson, he held a series of senior management roles at ArjoWiggins Group, the global paper group, from 1995 to 2004. He was a Board director of ArjoWiggins Appleton plc from 1999 to 2001, and was Chairman of the management board of ArjoWiggins sas from 2001 to 2004.

From 1985 to 1995, he was Managing Director of the technical ceramics division of Saint-Gobain SA, the global industrial materials group, and previously spent seven years with the French Ministry for Industry, as head of the research and production department at the Oil and Gas Directorate.

François is a graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique and Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris.

- Ends -

Note:

The Company confirms the following additional information requiring disclosure in relation to Mr Wanecq under paragraph 9.6.13 (1) of the Listing Rules:

Mr Wanecq has been since 1 March 2007 a member of the board of Vesuvius India Limited, a company listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India. 

For further information please contact:

Shareholder/Analyst Enquiries

Cookson Group plc Nick Salmon, Chief Executive

Tel: +44 (0)20 7822 0000 Mike Butterworth, Group Finance Director

Anna Hartropp, Investor Relations Manager

Media Enquiries

Hogarth Partnership Ltd John Olsen

Tel: +44 (0)20 7357 9477 Anthony Arthur

About Cookson Group plc:

Cookson Group plc is a leading materials science company operating on a worldwide basis in Ceramics, Electronics and Precious Metals markets.

The Ceramics division is the world leader in the supply of advanced consumable refractory products and systems to the global steel and foundry industries and a leading supplier of speciality ceramic products to the glass and solar industries. It is also a regional leader in the US, UK and Australia in the supply and installation of monolithic refractory linings.

The Electronics division is a leading supplier of advanced surface treatment and plating chemicals and assembly materials to the electronics, automotive, industrial and construction markets.

The Precious Metals division is a leading supplier of fabricated precious metals (primarily gold, silver and platinum) to the jewellery industry in the US, the UK, France and Spain. Products include alloy materials, semi-finished jewellery components and finished jewellery.