DUBLIN, Ireland, Nov. 2, 2009 (PR Newswire Europe) -- v> The Board of Directors of Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY) announces that Mr David Stout joined the Board as a Non Executive Director with effect from 31 October 2009.

Mr Stout has extensive pharmaceutical experience. Most recently he was President, Pharmaceutical Operations at GSK. In this position he had responsibility for pharmaceutical operations in the United States, Europe, Japan and all other International Markets. Mr Stout was also responsible for global manufacturing and global Biologics (vaccines) at GSK. Prior to that he was President of GSK's US Pharmaceuticals Business and before that SmithKline Beecham's North American Pharmaceuticals Business. Before joining SmithKline Beecham, Mr Stout worked for many years at Schering-Plough.

Mr Stout holds directorships at Allos Therapeutics, Inc, Jabil Circuit, Inc. and Airgas Inc.

Matt Emmens, Chairman of Shire commented;

"We are delighted to welcome David Stout to the Shire Board. He brings with him extensive international experience in the pharmaceutical industry, which we believe will be of great value to Shire as it continues its growth trajectory and becomes a more global company."

Notes to Editors

SHIRE PLC

Shire's strategic goal is to become the leading specialty biopharmaceutical company that focuses on meeting the needs of the specialist physician. Shire focuses its business on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), human genetic therapies (HGT) and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases as well as opportunities in other therapeutic areas to the extent they arise through acquisitions. Shire's in-licensing, merger and acquisition efforts are focused on products in specialist markets with strong intellectual property protection and global rights. Shire believes that a carefully selected and balanced portfolio of products with strategically aligned and relatively small-scale sales forces will deliver strong results.

For further information on Shire, please visit the Company's website: http://www.shire.com.

For further information please contact: Investor Relations Cléa Rosenfeld (Rest of the World) +44-1256-894-160 Eric Rojas (North America) +1-617-551-9715 Media Jessica Mann (Rest of the World) +44-1256-894-280 Matthew Cabrey (North America, +1-484-595-8248 Specialty Pharma) Jessica Cotrone (North America, HGT) +1-617-613-4640