28th Feb 2008 07:02
British American Tobacco PLC28 February 2008 For immediate release: Thursday, 28 February 2008 Directorate Change - Finance Director British American Tobacco p.l.c. announces that Paul Rayner will be retiring asFinance Director and from the Board of the Company at the Annual General Meetingon 30 April 2008 as he needs to return to Australia for family reasons. Ben Stevens, currently Regional Director, Europe, will be joining the Board on 3March 2008, and will succeed Paul Rayner as Finance Director when he steps down.Ben first joined the Group in 1990 and has held financial and generalmanagement roles in several countries around the world. He was promoted to theManagement Board in 2001, with responsibility, amongst others, for M&A andcorporate strategy, prior to taking on his current role as Regional Director,Europe in 2004. Jan du Plessis, Chairman of British American Tobacco said: "Our thoughts arevery much with Paul and his family at this difficult time. We are not onlylosing a brilliant Finance Director, but somebody who is widely respected andmuch liked by his colleagues worldwide. Since joining Rothmans Holdings inAustralia in 1991, he has made a significant contribution to the Group'sdevelopment, in particular in his role as Finance Director over the last sixyears. "It is nevertheless testimony to the quality of the Group's management that wehave an immediately available successor of Ben's calibre. With his tremendousexperience and in-depth knowledge of our business, I have no doubt that ourGroup's finances will be in good hands." Enquiries British American Tobacco Press OfficeDavid Betteridge / Kate Matrunola / Cat Armstrong+ (44) 0 20 7845 2888 (24 hours) Investor RelationsRalph Edmondson / Sharon Woodcock+44 (0) 20 7845 1180 / 1519 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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