**Exhibit 4.17**

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|                                                                                         |                                                                              |
| Mr Peter Ellwood      Catesby House      Lower Catesby      Daventry Northants      NN11 6LF | **Lord Trotman**Chairman**ICI**        20 Manchester Square        London W1U 3AN |

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|   | T. +44 (0)20        7009 5000      F. +44 (0)20 7009 5732      www.ici.com |

 

 12 December 2003

 Dear Peter 

**APPOINTMENT AS CHAIRMAN OF IMPERIAL CHEMICAL      INDUSTRIES PLC**

 I write to confirm the terms of your appointment    as Chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries PLC (the ***Company***),**such    appointment to take effect from 1 January 2004 (the “***Effective    Date***”). From the Effective Date, this letter will supersede    the Company’s letter to you of 30 June 2003 in connection with your    appointment as Deputy Chairman and Non-Executive Director of the Company. 

**Definitions**

| 1.   | In this Letter of Appointment        the following expressions shall have the following meanings: |
|----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

***Appointment***means      your appointment as set out in this letter; 

***Board***means      the board of directors of the Company from time to time or a duly constituted      committee thereof;******

***Group Company***means      the Company, any holding company of the Company and any subsidiary of the      Company or of any such holding company (with holding company and subsidiary      having the meanings given to them by section 736 Companies Act 1985).******

**Appointment**

| 2.   | The Appointment will commence        on the Effective Date and will continue until terminated by either party        on not less than 12 months’ notice in writing, or as agreed. |
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**Duties**

| 3. | Your duties as Chairman        of the Company will include: |
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|            |                                                                                                        |
|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (a)   | leadership of the Board,        setting its agenda, chairing its meetings and ensuring Board effectiveness; |

 

|   |                                                                                                                                               |
|--------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   | Imperial Chemical        Industries PLC      Registered in England No. 218019      Registered Office      20 Manchester Square      London W1U 3AN |

 

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| (b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | serving on (or where relevant)        chairing any committees of the Board to which you are appointed;                                                                                                                              |
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| (c)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | chairing the Annual General        Meeting, and any Extraordinary General Meetings of the Company                                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| (d)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | ensuring the provision        of accurate, timely and clear information to directors;                                                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| (e)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | ensuring effective communications        with shareholders and ensuring that members of the Board develop an understanding        of the views of major investors;                                                                  |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| (f)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | representing the Company        and the Board, as appropriate, in relation to shareholders, customers,        employees, other companies, relevant authorities and the public;                                                      |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| (g)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | arranging the regular evaluation        of the performance of the Board, its committees and individual directors;                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| (h)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | ensuring a properly constructed        induction programme for new directors;                                                                                                                                                       |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| (i)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | identifying and addressing        the development needs of the Board; and                                                                                                                                                           |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| (j)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | facilitating active engagement        by all members of the Board, including the effective contribution of        non-executive directors and ensuring constructive relations between executive        and non-executive directors. |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| 4.     By accepting the Appointment        you have confirmed that you are able to allocate sufficient time to meet        the expectations of your role. It is expected that this will require    around 150 days days per annum. |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| 5.     The performance of Directors    including the Chairman is evaluated annually.                                                                                                                                               |

**Fee**

| 6.     You will be entitled to        a fee for your services as Chairman of £240,000 per annum (less    any necessary statutory deductions). |
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 Your fee will be paid in arrears to a bank    account nominated by you in equal monthly instalments. Your fee will be reviewed    annually by the Board. 

| 7.     You may elect to receive        up to 100% of your annual fees in the form of shares in the Company.        Any such election shall be subject to such rules and procedures as may    be agreed by the Board from time to time.                                        |
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|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |   |
| 8.     The Company will reimburse        (or procure the reimbursement of) all out-of-pocket expenses properly        and reasonably incurred by you in the course of carrying out your duties    subject to production of receipts or other appropriate evidence of payment. |

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**Other directorships and business interests**

| 9.     The Company recognises        that you have other duties and business interests. Accordingly, you will        be expected to notify the Board via the Company Secretary of any direct        conflict of interest which may arise due to your duties as Chairman of        the Company and any other duties or business interests which you currently        have. In particular, you may not accept any further chairmanship of a    quoted company without the prior written consent of the Board. |
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**Restraint on Activities and Confidentiality**

| 10.     Except insofar as such        information is already in the public domain you will keep secret and        will not at any time (whether during the course of your Appointment or        thereafter) use for your own or another's advantage, or reveal to any        person, firm, company or organisation and shall take appropriate steps        (where necessary) to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information        relating to the business or interests of the Company or any Group Company        or any secret or confidential information acquired in consequence of        your Appointment which you know or ought reasonably to have known to    be confidential. |
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**Governing Law**

| 11.     This Letter of Appointment        is governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of    England. |
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 Please confirm your agreement to the above    by signing and returning to me the enclosed duplicate of this letter. 

 Yours sincerely 

 /s/ Alex Trotman 

**FOR AND ON BEHALF OFIMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES PLC**

| I have read and agree to the        above terms regarding my Appointment.                                        |                                                     |
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| /s/ Peter B Ellwood                                                                                              | 15.    12.03                                             |  |
| ................................................ | ........................ |   |
| PETER ELLWOOD                                                                                                    | DATE                                                     |   |

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