For Immediate Release

10 November 2003

Scipher plc announces appointment of new CEO

The technology development and licensing company, Scipher plc ("Scipher" or the
"Company") is pleased to announce that Dr. Rudolph Burger has been appointed
Chief Executive Officer of Scipher, with immediate effect. The board has made
the appointment in order to further strengthen the main board and the
management of the Company and separate the role of Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer. Dr Kenneth Gray will remain as Executive Chairman.

Dr Burger, 45, will take responsibility for day-to-day management of the
Company and will play a key role in shaping and executing Company strategy.

Commenting on his appointment Dr Burger said: "I look forward to this exciting
challenge. Scipher has developed a remarkable collection of business units from
its intellectual property ("IP") portfolio. Now is the time to strengthen its
position and implement the business model that will establish the company's
path to sustainable profitability."

Dr Burger brings to Scipher over 20 years of successful international business
and entrepreneurial experience in the information and communication technology
sector, and has a proven track record in translating advanced technology into
profitable business models in both small and large companies. Since 2000, Dr
Burger was CEO of Media Lab Europe - the European research partner of the MIT
Media Lab - establishing strategy and securing funding from industry sources.
Prior to this he was Chief Technical Officer and Executive Vice President of
NEC Packard Bell, responsible for worldwide development of personal computers.
This followed three years as Senior Vice President of Business Development in
the desktop imaging company, Visioneer, where he was responsible for product
and IP licensing, strategic planning and M&A. From 1993 to 1995 he was Vice
President, Software Products for Xerox, responsible for commercial exploitation
of IP developed at Xerox PARC. His first industrial post was in IBM's
prestigious T J Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York. During
his career he has founded three companies in software and information
technology fields.

Dr Burger has a Ph.D. from Cambridge University and Masters and Bachelors
degrees in Electrical Engineering from Yale University.

Commenting on today's announcement, Dr Ken Gray, Executive Chairman of Scipher,
said: "I am delighted that Dr Burger has agreed to join the Scipher Board. He
brings vast international experience in leading, managing and commercialising
technology and IP-based businesses. I believe that he will strongly lead the
business, capitalising on Scipher's ability to generate and grow IP-protected
businesses."

There are no other disclosures to be made in respect of the appointment of Dr
Burger under paragraph 15 and Schedule 2 (f) of the AIM Rules.

Enquiries:

Scipher plc:

Dr Ken Gray, Chairman Tel: 020 8848 6555

Financial Dynamics:

James Melville-Ross Tel: 020 7831 3113

Juliet Clarke Tel: 020 7831 3113

About Scipher

Scipher is a technology development and licensing company that delivers value
from IP in two principal ways:

  * Product licensing and sale - commercialising Scipher-owned technology in
    high growth markets through licensing or the sale of developed products
   
  * Patent Licensing - building on Scipher's extensive experience on IP
    management to create value for clients by exploiting their IP assets
    through licensing.
   
Scipher's portfolio of advanced technology products and know-how covers the
markets for Displays, Secure Identification, Communications, 3D Sound and
Sensors. Approximately half of Scipher's revenues are earned outside the UK.



END