8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 2, 2009

Shire plc

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Jersey, Channel Islands

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

0-29630	98-0601486
(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

5 Riverwalk, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin

24, Republic of Ireland

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code               +353 1 429 7700

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

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.):

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.f13e-4(c))

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers; Compensatory Agreements of Certain Officers.

     The Board of Directors of Shire plc (“Shire”) announced on November 2, 2009 that Mr. David Stout will join the Board as a non-executive director with effect from October 31, 2009. The terms of Mr. Stout's appointment are consistent with those of Shire's other non-executive directors as set forth in the Directors' Remuneration Report contained in Item 11: Executive Compensation of Shire's annual report on Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2008. 

Shire has issued the press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.01 which is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

                  (d)  Exhibits.  The following exhibit is filed herewith:

99.01 Press Release dated November 2, 2009

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 hereunto duly authorized.

SHIRE PLC
By:	/s/ A C Russell
	Name:	Angus Russell
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer

Dated: November 2, 2009

EXHIBIT INDEX
Number	Description
99.01	Press Release dated November 2, 2009

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.01

Press Release
www.shire.com

New Shire Board member

Dublin, Ireland – November 2, 2009 – The Board of Directors of Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY) announces that Mr David Stout joined the Board as a Non Executive Director with effect from 31 October 2009.

Mr Stout has extensive pharmaceutical experience. Most recently he was President, Pharmaceutical Operations at GSK. In this position he had responsibility for pharmaceutical operations in the United States, Europe, Japan and all other International Markets. Mr Stout was also responsible for global manufacturing and global Biologics (vaccines) at GSK. Prior to that he was President of GSK’s US Pharmaceuticals Business and before that SmithKline Beecham’s North American Pharmaceuticals Business. Before joining SmithKline Beecham, Mr Stout worked for many years at Schering- Plough.

Mr Stout holds directorships at Allos Therapeutics, Inc, Jabil Circuit, Inc. and Airgas Inc.

Matt Emmens, Chairman of Shire commented;

“We are delighted to welcome David Stout to the Shire Board. He brings with him extensive international experience in the pharmaceutical industry, which we believe will be of great value to Shire as it continues its growth trajectory and becomes a more global company.”

For further information please contact:

Investor Relations	Cléa Rosenfeld (Rest of the World)	+44 1256 894 160
	Eric Rojas (North America)	+1 617 551 9715
Media	Jessica Mann (Rest of the World)	+44 1256 894 280
	Matthew Cabrey (North America, Specialty Pharma)	+1 484 595 8248
	Jessica Cotrone (North America, HGT)	+1 617 613 4640

Notes to editors

SHIRE PLC

Shire’s strategic goal is to become the leading specialty biopharmaceutical company that focuses on meeting the needs of the specialist physician.  Shire focuses its business on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), human genetic therapies (HGT) and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases as well as opportunities in other therapeutic areas to the extent they arise through acquisitions.  Shire’s in-licensing, merger and acquisition efforts are focused on products in specialist markets with strong intellectual property protection and global rights.  Shire believes that a carefully selected and balanced portfolio of products with strategically aligned and relatively small-scale sales forces will deliver strong results.

For further information on Shire, please visit the Company’s website: www.shire.com.