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RNS Number:8758U
Hot Tuna (International) plc
30 November 2005

30th November 2005

                          Hot Tuna (International) PLC
                         ("Hot Tuna" or "The Company")

                Hot Tuna Appoints Quiksilver senior executive as
                           Hot Tuna Managing Director

Hot Tuna (AIM : HTT) has appointed Marcus Gracey as Managing Director of the
Company with immediate effect. Marcus joins the Hot Tuna Board from the
Australia & Asia Pacific Division of NASDAQ listed surf lifestyle giant,
Quiksilver Inc. Marcus' immediate focus with Hot Tuna will be to drive sales
growth within the U.S. licensee business and to locate and sign appropriate
licensees in Europe.

James Podaridis remains as Executive Director with key responsibility for
business development.

Marcus brings a wealth of experience to Hot Tuna, having been the General
Counsel for Quiksilver Australia & Asia Pacific for the past three years. Marcus
has extensive strategic industry expertise in areas that include, business
development, global infrastructure, corporate compliance, licensee modelling,
acquisitions and restructuring, sponsorship, athlete management, trade mark and
brand management.

Marcus' operational experience obtained through working with management across
the organisation in countries including Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia,
Japan, Hong Kong and China, will be of significant benefit to Hot Tuna which is
currently looking to extend its licensees in Asia Pacific region as well as UK,
Europe and the US. During the past three years, Marcus also took an active role
in the globalisation process of Quiksilver's Asia Pacific division, whereby the
Asia Pacific Licensee Group was acquired by and merged into Quiksilver Inc.

On his appointment to the Hot Tuna Board Marcus Gracey (36), stated: 'Growing up
in Australia there were only a handful of original core surf brands around and
Hot Tuna was one of them.  Having disappeared off the radar for some time, I was
thrilled to see it re-emerge with its AIM listing earlier this year.  I am very
excited about my new role with Hot Tuna as I can see we have the potential to
rival the big names in both global presence and distribution.'

Being a passionate surfer and having spent a significant portion of his life
chasing waves around the world, Marcus has an important appreciation and empathy
for the surfing lifestyle. A previous Western Australian state scholastic
surfing representative, Marcus also holds a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor
of Laws degree from the Northern Territory University (N.T, Australia), a
Masters Degree in Intellectual Property Law from Murdoch University, Western
Australia and is a Chartered Company Secretary.

Tony Oxley, Chief Executive, commented: "The combination of Marcus' strategic
and operational experience within the surf lifestyle market will be an
invaluable addition to Hot Tuna's executive management team."

Ranjit Murugason, Chairman added:  "The Board is excited about obtaining the
benefit of Marcus' industry skills and experience. He has a unique balance of
boardroom skills with a board shorts lifestyle that makes him an ideal executive
appointment to the Board and a valuable asset to the Company. The operational
and organisational experience that Marcus brings from Quiksilver, one of the
most successfully developed global surf lifestyle brands, will accelerate the
growth and brand positioning of Hot Tuna internationally and especially in our
core markets."

Under the terms of his contract, which runs for 12 months on an annually
renewable basis, with four months notice to be given by either party, in
addition to his salary he has been awarded options over 1,000,000 new Ordinary
Shares, on the following terms:


Options      Exercise      Term                                 Vesting
Number
             Price
250,000      #0.50         5 years following date of grant      Immediately on sign-on
250,000      #0.50         5 years following date of grant      12 months following date of grant
250,000      #0.75         5 years following date of grant      24 months following date of grant
250,000      #0.75         5 years following date of grant      36 months following date of grant

Subject to certain performance criteria, the number of shares under option may
rise further by 200,000 new Ordinary Shares.

Marcus will also participate in a bonus scheme under which new Ordinary Shares
will be allotted to him subject to share price performance criteria as follows:


Bonus Shares  Average Share Price*                Vesting
Number
200,000       #1.00                               12 months following date of appointment
200,000       #1.50                               24 months following date of appointment
200,000       #2.00                               36 months following date of appointment
200,000       #2.25                               48 months following date of appointment
200,000       #2.50                               60 months following date of appointment



* The closing mid market price of Hot Tuna Ordinary Shares on the AIM market
must have averaged or exceeded the stated price for the preceding thirty trading
days in order for the award of bonus shares to crystallise.

Subject to certain performance criteria, the number of shares included in the
bonus scheme may rise further by  200,000 new Ordinary Shares.


- Ends -


For further information, please contact:

Hot Tuna International Plc Ranjit   Nabarro Wells              Parkgreen Communications
Murugason, Chairman                 Hugh Oram                  Justine Howarth / Victoria Thomas
+44 20 7016 5100                    +44 20 7710 7400           +44 20 7493 3713
ranjit@hottuna.com.au                                          victoria.thomas@parkgreenmedia.com
                                                               

Notes to Editors

Hot Tuna International PLC listed on AIM on 23 September 2005 (AIM: HTT).  It is
the licensor, manager, marketer and owner of the Hot Tuna brand of surf
lifestyle apparel and accessories.  The Company acquired the brand in June 2005
and the surf lifestyle market includes: board shorts, t-shirts, hats, swimwear,
backpacks and bags, surf hardware, eyewear, footwear and jewellery.

As custodian of the Hot Tuna brand, the Company intends to control the
distribution, quality and marketing of its products on a global scale and ensure
that the best products are produced.  The brand will be developed through the
appointment of local licensees in individual countries that have the relevant
experience to develop and gain competitive advantage for the brand in their own
national markets.  The Company has exclusive licensees in Australia, New
Zealand, the United States, Mexico and Canada.  In addition, the company has
non- exclusive licensing arrangements in a number of countries including
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Korea and Japan.

APPENDIX

Further information on Marcus Gracey

Full name:     Marcus Gracey
Age:           36

Current directorships
Hot Tuna (International) PLC
Millenium Falcon Pty Ltd
EDG Enterprises Pty Ltd
Remir Ltd

Directorships held within the previous five years

None






                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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