FORM 6-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                            Report of Foreign Issuer


                      Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                  June 7, 2004


                               BRITISH ENERGY PLC
                               (Registrant's name)


                               3 Redwood Crescent
                                    Peel Park
                              East Kilbride G74 5PR
                                    Scotland
                    (Address of principal executive offices)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

                          Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                               Yes ..... No ..X..

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):



                                  Exhibit Index

The following document (bearing the exhibit number listed below) is furnished
herewith and is made a part of this Report pursuant to the General Instructions
for Form 6-K:

Exhibit       Description

No. 1         RNS Announcement, re: Appointment of CNO dated 7 June 2004


7 June 2004
                               BRITISH ENERGY PLC
                         CHIEF NUCLEAR OFFICER APPOINTED


British  Energy is pleased to announce the  appointment of Roy Anderson as Chief
Nuclear  Officer.  In this role,  he will be  responsible  for the  operation of
British  Energy's  fleet of eight  UK  Nuclear  Power  Generation  Stations.  Mr
Anderson  will be a member  of the  Executive  Committee  reporting  to CEO Mike
Alexander. He will join British Energy on 5th July 2004.

Mr  Anderson  is  currently  President  of PSEG  Nuclear  in the US  where he is
responsible for all nuclear production.  He was previously Chief Nuclear Officer
of Nuclear  Management  Company and prior to that of Florida Power  Corporation.
His earlier career spanned Caroline Power & Light Company, Boston Edison Company
and General Electric  Company.  He has a degree in Marine & Nuclear  Engineering
and an MBA in Operation Research.

Mike Alexander, Chief Executive of British Energy, said:

"Roy has significant  experience of nuclear  turnarounds and his experience will
be  invaluable  to British  Energy as we progress  the  Performance  Improvement
Programme. He joins at an important time in the restructuring of the Company".

Mr Anderson commented:

"The  challenge  at British  Energy is an exciting  one,  and I am pleased to be
joining  the  Company at this time.  I believe  that  British  Energy  staff are
committed  and  professional  and I look  forward to leading  them  through this
period of change".

David  Gilchrist,   currently  Managing  Director,   British  Energy  generation
subsidiaries,  will take on the new group wide  position of  Technical  Director
which  will  strengthen  the  technical  and  operational   involvement  in  key
regulatory and commercial support areas across British Energy. Mr Gilchrist will
take up this new role on 5th July 2004.


For further details please contact:

Andrew Dowler                    020 7831 3113          (Media Enquiries)
Paul Heward                      01355 262201           (Investor Relations)


                                   SIGNATURES

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.


Date:  June 7, 2004                        BRITISH ENERGY PLC

                                           By:____Paul Heward____

                                           Name:  Paul Heward
                                           Title: Director - Investor Relations