EX-4.(c)(ix)



 Exhibit 4 (c) (ix) 
 10 April 2012 
 Mr Richard U. De Schutter 

15, Adam Street 
 London 

WC2N 6LA 
 Dear Dick, 

SMITH & NEPHEW plc (THE “COMPANY”) AND YOUR RE-APPOINTMENT 

AS SENIOR INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 
 Following the recommendation of the Nominations Committee, the board of the Company (the “Board”) is delighted to hear that you have accepted our offer to remain on the Board as Senior
Independent non-executive director of the Company from 1 January 2012. This letter confirms the main terms of your appointment to this office. It is agreed that this is a contract for services and not a contract of employment. You should be
aware that your re-appointment will have to be ratified on an annual basis by the Company’s shareholders at the annual general meeting and is subject to the Company’s articles of association as amended from time to time. If there is a
conflict between the terms of this letter and the articles of association then the articles shall prevail. 
 DUTIES 

 

	1.	You are already aware how the Board is structured and what authorities are delegated to the Chief Executive Officer and his colleagues. 


 

	2.	The Board as a whole is collectively responsible for promoting the success of the Company by directing and supervising the Company’s affairs. The Board’s role
is to: 

  

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


  

	 	(b)	set the Company’s strategic aims, ensure that the necessary financial and human resources are in place for the Company to meet its objectives, and review
management performance; and 

  

	 	(c)	set the Company’s values and standards and ensure that its obligations to its shareholders and others are understood and met. 


  
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	3.	In your role as a non-executive director you are required (with the other non-executives) to: 


 

	 	(a)	constructively challenge and contribute to the development of strategy; 

  

	 	(b)	scrutinise the performance of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives and monitor the reporting of performance; 


 

	 	(c)	satisfy yourself that financial information is accurate and that financial controls and systems of risk management are robust and defensible; and


  

	 	(d)	have a prime role in appointing, and where necessary removing, senior management and in succession planning and where required by the relevant policy of the Company
from time to time be responsible for determining appropriate levels of remuneration of executive directors. 

  

	4.	You will be required to: 

  

	 	(a)	exercise relevant powers under the Company’s Articles of Association; 


 

	 	(b)	perform your duties faithfully, efficiently and diligently and use all reasonable endeavours to promote the interests and reputation of the Company;


  

	 	(c)	serve on various committees of the Board and attend wherever possible all meetings of such committees. You will be provided with the terms of reference of a committee
on your appointment to such a committee; 

  

	 	(d)	attend wherever possible all Annual General Meetings and other General Meetings of the Company; 


 

	 	(e)	attend wherever possible all meetings of the Board, which meets at least six times a year, normally at 15 Adam Street, London WC2N 6LA (at least one meeting per year is
held at one of the major divisions); 

  

	 	(f)	attend wherever possible the Annual Strategy Review, which is usually held off-site over two days in September; 


 

	 	(g)	consider all relevant papers in advance of each meeting in order to ensure that you can play a full part in the work of the Board and its committees;


  

	 	(h)	bring independent judgement to bear on issues of strategy, policy, resources, performance and standards of conduct; 


 

	 	(i)	make yourself available (on reasonable notice) to provide ad hoc advice to individual directors of the Company. We do not envisage that this would take more than three
days of your time a year; 


  
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	 	(j)	provide guidance and direction in planning, developing and enhancing the future strategic direction of the Company; 


 

	 	(k)	share responsibility with the other directors for the effective control of the Company and with the other non-executive directors for the supervision of the executive
directors; and 

  

	 	(l)	comply with the Financial Services Authority’s Model Code for securities transactions by directors of UK listed companies and with any code of conduct relating to
securities transactions by directors and specified employees issued by the Company from time to time (the Smith & Nephew Code of Dealing in Securities has been sent to you and further copies are available from the Company Secretary).


  

	5.	Overall the Company anticipates that you will need to spend a minimum of 15 days per year fulfilling your duties. This will include the Board Meetings, Annual General
Meetings, one Board away-day each year and Board committee meetings. In addition you will be expected to spend an appropriate period of time preparing for each meeting and be prepared to be available for additional meetings and business when
required. By accepting this appointment you confirm that you are able to commit sufficient time to the role to meet the Company’s expectations. 

  

	6.	The Company seeks to adhere to the principles in The UK Corporate Governance Code. You will be expected to carry out your duties in accordance with the principles set
out in these reports, copies of which are available from the Company Secretary. 

  

	7.	The performance of the Board and its committees, and of individual directors, is evaluated annually. At least every third year the performance will be reviewed by an
external body. 

  

	8.	You shall, in pursuance of your duties hereunder, be entitled to request such information from the Company, its subsidiary undertakings (as defined in section 1162 of
the Companies Act 2006 as amended from time to time) or its or their employees, consultants or professional advisers as may be reasonably necessary to enable you to perform your role effectively. The Company shall use its reasonable endeavours to
provide such information promptly. 

 CONFIDENTIALITY 
 During the course of your duties you will have access to confidential information belonging to the Company and its subsidiary undertakings (including, but not limited to, details of suppliers, customers,
margins, know-how, marketing and other relevant business information). Unauthorised disclosure of this information could seriously damage the Company. You therefore undertake not to use or disclose such information save in pursuance of your duties
or in accordance with any statutory obligation or court or similar order. 
 Your attention is drawn to the rules relating to the disclosure of
price sensitive information. You must not make any statement or do anything which may be a breach of these rules without prior clearance from the Chairman or Company Secretary. 

  
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 OUTSIDE INTERESTS 
 The agreement of the Chairman should be sought before you accept any new outside interests which might affect the time you are able to devote to this appointment. 

In accordance with the principles set out in The UK Corporate Governance Code you must inform the Company Secretary of any interests which you have, or
acquire, which might reasonably be thought to jeopardise your independence from the Company. 
 During your appointment you must not take up any
office or employment with, or have any interest in, any firm or company which is or may be in direct or indirect competition with the Company. 

The Board has determined you to be independent, according to the provisions of The UK Corporate Governance Code. 

INSURANCE 
 During your appointment you
will be covered by the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance on the terms in place from time to time. Details of the policy are available from the Company Secretary. The Company does not guarantee to maintain this
insurance cover after the termination of your appointment, but you will continue to be covered by the policy or any replacement on the same basis as the rest of the Board. 
 A deed of indemnity is in place between you and the Company. 
 APPOINTMENT 

Your re-appointment will be from 1 January 2012 and is terminable at the will of the parties. However, it is envisaged that it will be for a further
period of 12 months continuing until 31 December 2012 subject to an annual review taking into account the need for progressive refreshing of the Board. The continuation of your appointment depends upon satisfactory performance and re-election
at the each Annual General Meeting. 
 All appointments and reappointments to the Board are, of course, subject to the Company’s Articles
of Association. If you are not re-elected to your position as a director of the Company by the shareholders at any time and for any reason then this appointment shall terminate automatically and with immediate effect. 

On termination of the appointment you shall only be entitled to such fees as may have accrued to the date of termination together with reimbursement in
the normal way of any expenses properly incurred prior to that date. 
 REMUNERATION 

The fees are US$120,000 per annum (subject to income tax and statutory deductions) and will be reviewed each year. There is an additional allowance
relating to inter-continental travel of US$7,000 per trip. 
 As Senior Independent Director you will receive an additional fee of US$27,000 per
annum. 

  
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 EXPENSES 
 The Company will reimburse you for any expenses that you may incur properly and reasonably in performing your duties and which are properly documented. Such expenses would include reasonable legal fees if
circumstances should arise in which it was necessary for you to seek separate legal advice about the performance of your duties. In such a situation, you are required to discuss the issue either with me or with one of your non-executive colleagues
in advance. 
 INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL ADVICE 
 In some circumstances you may think that you need professional advice in the furtherance of your duties as a director. It may also be appropriate for you to seek advice from independent advisers at the
Company’s expense. The Company will reimburse the full cost of any expenditure incurred. 
 DATA PROTECTION 

By signing this agreement you consent to the Company holding and processing information about you which it may acquire during the course of this
agreement, providing such use is in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. 
 THIRD PARTY RIGHTS 

The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 shall not apply to this agreement. No person other than the parties to this agreement shall have any
rights under it and it will not be enforceable by any person other than the parties to it. 
 ENTIRE AGREEMENT 

This agreement constitutes the entire and only agreement relating to your appointment between you and the Company. 

Any previous agreement or arrangement between you and the Company or any Group company shall be deemed to have been terminated by mutual consent as from
the commencement of this re-appointment, including but not limited to the re-appointment letter dated 27 September 2011. 
 Please sign and
return the enclosed copy of this letter to confirm your agreement to your re-appointment on the above terms. 
 I look forward to continue
working with you in the future. 
 Yours sincerely 
  

	
	/s/ Susan Henderson
	Susan Henderson
	Company Secretary


  
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 I, Richard De Schutter, agree to the above terms of re-appointment as a non-executive director of
Smith & Nephew plc. 
  

			
	Name	 	 /s/ Richard De Schutter

		
	Date	 	 11 April 2012



  
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