8-K

                                  UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              Washington, DC 20549
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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT



                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) of the

                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                 Date of earliest event reported: August 18, 2003
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                       WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES, INC.

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               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)




     Pennsylvania                   1-8036                     23-1210010
(State of Incorporation)    (Commission File Number)        (I.R.S. Employer
                                                           Identification No.)

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       101 Gordon Drive, P.O. Box 645, Lionville, Pennsylvania 19341-0645
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       (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                (Zip Code)


                                 (610) 594-2900
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              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)




                             ---------N/A--------

          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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Item 5.  Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.


         On August 18, 2003 West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.(the "Company")
         issued a press release announcing the appointment of Linda R. Altemus
         to the newly created position of Vice President and Chief Compliance
         Officer.  A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit
         99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

         On August 18, 2003 West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (the "Company")
         issued a press release announcing the appointment of William J. Federici
         as the Company's Chief Financial Officer.  A copy of the press release
         is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated herein by
         reference.






Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

    (c) Exhibits:

        Exhibit #  Description

        99.1       West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. Press Release, dated
                   August 18, 2003.

        99.2       West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. Press Release, dated
                   August 18, 2003.



          SIGNATURE


     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                                    WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES, INC.



Date:  August 20, 2003              By: /s/ William J. Federici
                                        -------------------------------
                                        William J. Federici
                                        Vice President and
                                        Chief Financial Officer





                                 Exhibit Index



99.1   West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. Press Release, dated August 18, 2003.


99.2   West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. Press Release, dated August 18, 2003.

EX-99

Exhibit 99.1

WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES, INC.

Creates New Position To Strengthen Compliance Activities

— Linda R. Altemus Appointed Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer —

LIONVILLE, PA., August 18, 2003 — West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST) today announced the appointment of Linda R. Altemus, to the newly created position of Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, effective immediately.

In her new position, Mrs. Altemus will oversee the Company’s corporate compliance program, functioning as an independent and objective body that reviews and evaluates compliance issues/concerns within the organization. In this newly created position, Mrs. Altemus will report directly to Donald E. Morel Jr., Ph.D., West’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and will direct corporate compliance activities, monitor compliance trends, measure the effectiveness of policies and training, share best practices, and manage compliance-related communications. The position ensures the Board of Directors, management and employees are in compliance with the rules and regulations of regulatory agencies, Company policies and the Company’s Standards of Conduct. In addition to these responsibilities, Mrs. Altemus will retain responsibility for Internal Audit, Corporate Information Technology and Business Process Improvement.

Commenting on the appointment, Dr. Morel said, “West has always been ahead of the curve with corporate governance standards and processes. Accordingly, the creation of this new position is a natural step in our ongoing efforts to refine the Company’s governance practice and to enhance its long-standing reputation for integrity and ethical behavior. Mrs. Altemus’ skills and broad business practice knowledge make her the ideal candidate to lead West, as it maintains the highest business, corporate and operational standards. I applaud Linda’s hard work and am confident she will set the standard for good corporate governance.”

Mrs. Altemus joined West Pharmaceuticals in 1997 as Director of Global Business Information Management. In this position she took the lead role in upgrading the Company’s information technology and e-business strategy. In 2001, Mrs. Altemus was promoted to her most recent position of Vice President and Chief Financial Officer responsible for financial and accounting activities as well as information systems. Prior to joining West, Mrs. Altemus held a variety of accounting and financial management positions at Cabot Corporation, Johnson Matthey and Burroughs Corporation.

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EX-99

Exhibit 99.2

WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES, INC.

Appoints New Chief Financial Officer

LIONVILLE, PA., August 18, 2003 — West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST) today announced the appointment of William J. Federici, 44, as the Company’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately.

Mr. Federici will have responsibility for the Company’s corporate finance and accounting functions. Mr. Federici joins West with more than twenty years of experience in public accounting for the pharmaceutical industry. Most recently, Mr. Federici served as practice leader for the pharmaceuticals industry in the Americas and engagement partner for several pharmaceutical companies at KPMG LLP.

Donald E. Morel, Jr., Ph.D., West’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented, “In addition to broad pharmaceutical industry experience, Mr. Federici brings extensive knowledge and expertise in financial statement assurance, business risk analysis, internal controls, SEC registration and reporting and acquisitions and divestitures. His background and financial and industry expertise make Mr. Federici a strong addition to our management team and he will play a critical role in West’s continued growth and financial performance.”

Mr. Federici holds a BA in Economics and an MBA in Professional Accounting from Rutgers University and is a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Federici is also an Advisory Board Member of the Rutgers University School of Business, and the President of the Board of Trustees at Cancer Care of New Jersey.

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