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29 June 2010

Smith & Nephew plc (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN), the global medical technology business, announced today that it has promoted Kelvin Johnson, President Emerging Markets to the  position of National Executive for China. This will be in addition to his position as President Emerging Markets and will involve a change in location, from Dubai to China.

The role of the National Executive for China, is to enhance the commercial activities of Smith & Nephew in China by focussing on the development of the medical devices market, the progressive and rapid development of Smith & Nephew’s business in China and its strategy to deliver a One Company culture for the Chinese market. 

Ms Glendy Wang, Managing Director, Greater China, will continue in her current role where she is responsible for the direct management of all Smith & Nephew customer facing activities in China.

As well as his role as National Executive for China Mr Johnson will retain his role as President of Emerging Markets and as a member of the Presidents Council of Smith & Nephew, the senior management committee of the Smith & Nephew group.

Mr Dave Illingworth, Chief Executive Officer of Smith & Nephew, commenting on this appointment said "The Chinese market for our broad range of innovative products is substantial.  We see considerable potential to work with Chinese surgeons to develop new technologies, and we have already shown our recognition of the country's manufacturing excellence by the construction of two dedicated factories for our Advanced Woundcare and Orthopaedics businesses.  Kelvin's appointment as National Executive for Smith & Nephew China is further demonstration of our commitment to China."

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business with global leadership positions in Orthopaedics; including Reconstruction, Trauma and Clinical Therapies; Endoscopy; including Sports Medicine; and Advanced Wound Management.  Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives.  The Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation and trust.  The Company operates in 32 countries around the world.  Annual sales in 2009 were nearly $3.8 billion.

Mr Kelvin Johnson has been with Smith & Nephew for more than 20 years. A South African, with qualifications in Economics, Industrial Psychology, Labour Economics and Business Administration, his experience covers Manufacturing, HR, Business Development, Selling and Marketing.

He has been based in the Middle East to enable him to travel widely between in the Emerging Markets for which he has responsibility. He has extensive knowledge about the geopolitical and economic factors that make these markets unique, and commercially attractive for Smith & Nephew.

Prior to Smith & Nephew Mr Johnson worked in the Automotive Industry, for the Ford Motor Company.

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  In particular, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading margins discussed under "Outlook" are forward-looking statements as are discussions of our product pipeline.  These statements, as well as the phrases "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions, are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but not limited to, the outcome of litigation, claims and regulatory approvals) that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20F, for a discussion of certain of these factors.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof.  All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person acting on behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing.  Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith & Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

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