News from Acorn Computers - PR129/31.07.95 

New Managing Director at Acorn Computer Group plc and Acorn Computers Limited 
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- David Lee takes the helm reinforcing new initiatives and customer focus - 

David Lee has been appointed Managing Director of Acorn Computer Group and 
Managing Director of Acorn Computers Limited with immediate effect.  He 
joins the Acorn Group from Olivetti UK Limited where he was Director of 
Finance and Administration for a number of years.  His appointment follows 
the resignation of Sam Wauchope. 

David Lee's appointment confirms the Group's commitment to moving the 
business forward through continued technical innovation and development 
coupled with new customer and market initiatives. 

Commenting on this appointment, Marco De Benedetti, Chief Operating Officer 
of Olivetti Telemedia, said: "Acorn must develop its business if it is to 
continue to thrive in a very competitive, changing market.  Acorn has 
demonstrated throughout its history that it is able to do this.  The 
strategy set for Acorn is therefore continuing.  Throughout the 14 years he 
was with Olivetti, David has made an outstanding contribution.  I am 
delighted that he is taking on this new role." 

David Lee said: "Taking the helm of one of the world's leading brands in 
information technology for education is an exciting challenge.  Continuing 
the expansion of the Group's activities through Online Media and through our 
associate company Advanced RISC Machines is also a great opportunity. 

"Acorn has a really talented team of people and one of my first priorities 
will be to work with them to identify and implement new initiatives to 
ensure the long-term success of the business." 

A chartered accountant, David Lee has pursued a financial career in industry 
for over 25 years, 20 of which have been spent in the IT sector. 

During his time at Olivetti, which he joined in 1981, he was instrumental 
in establishing the company's in-house staff development programme, for 
which it was awarded 'Investors in People' status.  Prior to joining 
Olivetti, he held senior financial positions with ITT and Hepworth plc. 

He is 52 years old and married with two children. 

Notes to Editors: 

Acorn Computer Group plc:  Acorn Computer Group plc is the holding company 
for Acorn Computers Limited, Acorn Australia, Acorn New Zealand, Acorn GmbH 
and Online Media, and owns a 43% shareholding of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. 
Online Media, a division of the Acorn Computer Group, was launched in 1994 
with the objective to design interactive multimedia products. 

Acorn Computers Limited:  Founded in 1978, Acorn Computers Limited designs, 
develops and markets appropriate technologies to key targeted users and is 
one of the world's foremost suppliers of information technology to the 
education market.  The first company in the world to deliver affordable 
32-bit RISC-based personal computers in 1987, Acorn remains one of the most 
cost-effective research and development organisations in the industry with a 
renowned reputation for technological innovation, and which has led to the 
formation of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd and Online Media. 

Acorn leads a worldwide community of more than 400 specialist hardware and 
software developers.  The Acorn Group operates technological and commercial 
agreements and partnerships with: AB Dick ITEK, Advanced RISC Machines Ltd, 
Psion, IBM Blue Micro, IBM Personal Software Division, Colourgen, Kodak, 
FTDI (Future Technology Devices International), VLSI, GEC-Plessey 
Semiconductors, Granada Microcare and Tesco. 

Online Media:  Online Media is a division of Acorn Computer Group plc, 
operating with the full strategic backing of Acorn's parent company, 
Olivetti. 

Established in July 1994, Online Media is developing innovative and 
affordable interactive television products with a portfolio of hardware, 
enabling software and services to meet the requirements of the new mass 
markets emerging from the information superhighway.  The company focuses on 
cost competitive designs which exploit emerging world standards, and its 
first product, an intelligent digital set-top box, is already in production 
and in use.  Alongside hardware products, Online Media offers authoring 
systems, services and consultancy in service development, as well as other 
related areas.  All Online Media designs are available under licence. 

Online Media, a division of Acorn, has partnerships with: Advanced 
Telecommunications Modules Ltd, Anglia Television, BNP DDB Needham, 
Cambridge Cable, DEC, ICL, ITN, Macromedia, Microsoft, NatWest, NOP, 
Omnicom, Oracle and SJ Research. 

In conjunction with the European Commission, the Acorn Group has technology 
development partnerships with Editel (Italy), Etnoteam (Italy), Giunti 
Multimedia (Italy), Grupo Zeta (Spain), IBM Xyratex (UK), Intrasoft 
(Greece), Italtel (Italy), Lernout & Hauspie (Belgium), Myrica (UK), 
Pluricom (Portugal) and Siemens Nixdorf (Germany). 

For more press information, please contact: 

Hilary Swift                    or      Sally Mortimore 
Acorn Computers Limited                 Text 100 
Tel: +44 (0)1223 254287                 Tel: +44 (0)181 242 4172