ASTRAZENECA PLC APPOINTS NEW NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

AstraZeneca today announced that the Right Honourable Baroness Shriti Vadera is to join the Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director, with effect from 1 January 2011. She will also become a member of the Board’s Audit Committee.

Baroness Vadera has recently undertaken a number of advisory roles, including Senior Adviser to the Korean Presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20), Adviser to Temasek Holdings, Singapore and Adviser to the Government of Dubai on the restructuring of Dubai World’s debt.  She previously held a series of ministerial positions in the UK government, most latterly Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Economic Competitiveness and Enterprise in the Cabinet Office and Department for Business, Innovation & Skills.  From April 1999 to March 2007, she was Adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Council of Economic Advisers, HM Treasury. From 1984 to 1999, Baroness Vadera held various corporate and project finance, government advisory, and banking and capital markets roles with SG Warburg/UBS.

Baroness Vadera will become a Non-Executive Director of BHP Billiton Plc and BHP Billiton Ltd on 1 January 2011.

Louis Schweitzer, Chairman of AstraZeneca, said: “Shriti Vadera’s strong financial and business track record, combined with her experience of global financial markets and public policy will be invaluable to the work of the Board. In addition, her direct experience and knowledge of Asia, Africa and the Middle East will help inform AstraZeneca’s business decisions and strategy in emerging markets.”

No disclosure obligations arise under paragraphs (1) to (6) of LR 9.6.13 of the UK Listing Authority’s Listing Rules in respect of the appointment of Baroness Vadera.

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines. As a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease medicines, AstraZeneca generated global revenues of US $32.8 billion in 2009.  For more information please visit: www.astrazeneca.com

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