Exhibit 4.16

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|                                                           | **ICI**                                                                                                              |
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| Baroness NoakesChurch HouseHigh StreetGoudhurst, Kent TN17 1AJ | 20 Manchester SquareLondon W1U 3AN

T. +44 (0)20 7009 5000F. +44 (0)20 7009 5001www.ici.com

 

6 February 2004 |
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Dear Baroness Noakes

**APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES PLC**

I write to confirm the terms of your appointment as Non-Executive Director of Imperial Chemical Industries PLC (the ***Company***),such appointment to take effect from the Effective Date as defined below.

**Definitions**

| 1.     In this Letter of Appointmentthe following expressions shall have the following meanings: |
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| ***Appointment***means your appointment as set out inthis letter; |

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

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| ***Effective Date***means 1st March 2004; |

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| ***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 commenceon the Effective Date and is subject to re-election to the Board at the firstAnnual General Meeting after joining the Board. |
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| 3.     Your engagement as a Non-ExecutiveDirector will be for an initial period of three years. Current practice in ICIis that Non-Executive Directors are normally expected to serve two three yearterms (starting on the date of their election at the first Annual General Meetingafter joining the Board). However, you acknowledge that you have no entitlementto compensation (except in relation to fees due at the date of termination) ifthe Appointment terminates prior to the end of the three year term for any reason. |

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|   | Imperial          Chemical Industries PLCRegistered in England          No. 218019Registered office20 Manchester SquareLondon W1U 3AN |

 

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| 4.     If, for any reason other thanon the expiry of your term of engagement, you resign as a Non-Executive Directoror do not seek re-election as a director of the Company, you will set out yourreasons for resigning in writing, addressed to the Chairman. |
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**Duties**

| 5.     You are considered to be an independentNon-Executive Director and will be identified as such in the annual report andother documentation. If circumstances change, and you believe that your independencemay be in doubt, you should discuss this with the Chairman as soon as practicable. |
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| 6.     The Board as a whole is collectively responsible for promoting the success of the Company by directing and supervising the Company’saffairs. The Board: |

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| (a)    | provides entrepreneurial leadership of the Company within a framework of prudent and effective controls which enable risk to be assessed and managed; |

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| (b)    | sets the Company’s strategic aims, ensures that the necessaryfinancial and human resources are in place for the Company to meet its objectives,and reviews management performance; and |

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| (c)    | sets the Company’s values and standards and ensures thatits obligations to its shareholders and others are understood and met. |

All directors must take decisions objectively in the interests of the Company.  In addition, as a Non-Executive Director, your responsibilities will include:

| (d) | constructively challenging and contribute to the development of strategy; |
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| (e)    | scrutinising the performance of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives and monitor the reporting of performance; |

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| (f)    | satisfying yourself that that financial information is accurate and that financial controls and systems of risk management are robust and defensible; and |

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| (g)    | determining appropriate levels of remuneration of executive directors and to have a prime role in appointing, and where necessary removing, senior management and in succession planning. |

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| 7.     During your Appointment, you willbe required to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Company, regular andemergency Board Meetings, any Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company andto serve on and/or chair any committees of the Board to which you are appointed.The Board agenda is usually issued on the Thursday before each Board Meetingtogether with most of the supporting papers. We shall courier these to you atthe above address, unless you advise otherwise. The Non-Executive Directors generallymeet as a group twice a year without the Chairman being present for part of thetime. |

 

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| 8.     You have been invited to serveon the Nomination, Remuneration and Audit Committees. Meetings of these Committeesare normally held on Board Meeting days: in the case of the Nomination and RemunerationCommittees, as and when required; in the case of the Audit Committee, beforethe Board Meeting on a quarterly basis. |
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| 9.     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 on average this would require 2 – 3days per month but you are aware that the nature of the role makes it impossibleto be specific about time commitment. |

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| 10.     The performance of Directorsis evaluated annually. |

**Fees**

| 11.     You will be entitled to suchfee (less any necessary statutory deductions) for your services as Non-ExecutiveDirector as the Board may determine from time to time. |
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| 12.     These fees will be paid in arrearsto a bank account nominated by you in equal monthly instalments. |

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| 13.     You may elect to receive either50% or 100% of your annual fees in the form of shares in the Company. Furtherdetails of this arrangement will be provided by the Company Secretariat. |

**Expenses**

| 14.     The Company will reimburse (orprocure the reimbursement of) all out-of-pocket expenses properly and reasonablyincurred by you in the course of carrying out your duties subject to productionof receipts or other appropriate evidence of payment. |
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| 15.     During the Appointment, circumstances may arise in the furtherance of your duties as a Director when it will be appropriate for you to seek advice from independent advisers at the Company’s expense.  A copy of the Board’sagreed procedure under which directors may obtain such independent advice willbe provided by the Company Secretariat. The Company will reimburse the full costof expenditure incurred in accordance with this policy. |

**Other Benefits**

| 16.     For the avoidance of doubt, youwill not be eligible to receive any payments or benefits other than as providedfor by this Letter of Appointment. |
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**Induction**

| 17.     In connection with your Appointment, the Company will provide a comprehensive, formal and tailored induction programme, and you agree to take part in the induction programme.  As part of the programme, we may also offer you the opportunity to meet the Company’s major shareholders, and you agree to make yourself available should the Company’smajor shareholders wish to meet you. |
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**Other directorships and business interests**

| 18.     The Company recognises that youhave other duties and business interests and that you have declared any conflictsthat are apparent at present. You will be expected to notify the Chairman andthe Company Secretary of any direct conflict of interest which may arise dueto your duties as Non-Executive Director of the Company and any other dutiesor business interests which you currently have. In particular you are requiredto notify the Chairman before taking on any additional commitments that mightaffect the time you are required to spend performing your duties pursuant tothe Appointment, and before taking on any other (or further) directorships ofpublicly quoted companies or any major external appointments. |
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**Restraint on Activities and Confidentiality**

| 19.     You must apply the highest standardsof confidentiality and not disclose to any person or company (whether duringthe course of the Appointment or at any time after its termination) any confidentialinformation concerning the Company and any Group Companies with which you comeinto contact by virtue of your position as a Non-Executive Director of the Company. |
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| 20.     Your attention is drawn to therequirements under both legislation and regulation as to the disclosure of price-sensitiveinformation. Consequently you should avoid making any statements that might riska breach of these requirements without prior clearance from the Chairman or CompanySecretary. |

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| 21.     On termination of the Appointmentyou will deliver to the Company all books, documents, papers and other propertyof or relating to the business of the Company or any Group Company which arein your possession, custody or power by virtue of your position as a Non-ExecutiveDirector of the Company. The Company is able to arrange the disposal of paperswhich you no longer require. |

**Insurance**

| 22.     During the period of your Appointment and thereafter, the Company intends to provide and maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for your benefit in respect of the period of your Appointment.  Any such cover would be in accordance with the terms of the Company’sdirectors and officers liability insurance cover from time to time in force. |
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**Governing Law**

| 23.     This Letter of Appointment isgoverned 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/ Peter B Ellwood

**FOR AND ON BEHALF OF IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES PLC**

I have read and agree to the above terms regarding my Appointment.

/s/       Noakes

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**BARONESS NOAKES**

 

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