uk bat.com - Management Board
The Management Board, chaired by the Chief Executive, comprises the Finance Director and the Chief Operating Officer of British American Tobacco p.l.c. along with the executives below.
The Management Board is responsible for overseeing the implementation by the Group's operating subsidiaries of the policies and strategy set by the Board of Directors, and for creating the conditions for their successful day-to-day operation.
Jack Bowles, Regional Director, Asia-Pacific
Jack became Regional Director for Asia-Pacific in January 2013. Joining the Group in 2004, Jack was Chairman of British American Tobacco France in 2005 before taking up the role of Managing Director of British American Tobacco Malaysia in 2007. He joined the Management Board as Regional Director for Western Europe in October 2009 before becoming Regional Director for the Americas in October 2011.
Alan Davy, Director, Operations
Alan was appointed to the Management Board as Group Operations Director in March 2013. He joined the group in 1988 and has held various roles in Manufacturing, Supply Chain and General Management. Alan previously held the position of Group Head of Supply Chain.
Giovanni Giordano, Director, Group Human Resources
Giovanni joined the Management Board of British American Tobacco in June 2011. He is an international human resources executive with wide experience from senior roles at Procter & Gamble and Ferrero, where he was Chief Corporate Officer.
Andrew Gray, Director, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa
Andrew became the Regional Director for Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) in January 2011. He joined the Management Board as Regional Director for Africa and the Middle East in January 2008. Joining Souza Cruz as an intern in 1986, he went on to hold a number of senior management positions in South America and the Caribbean (including President of Souza Cruz) and also in Malaysia.
Jean-Marc Lévy, Director, Marketing
Jean-Marc was appointed Marketing Director in January 2010. After beginning his career with the Kraft-Jacobs-Suchard Group he joined British American Tobacco in 1994 as Marketing Director in Switzerland. He went on to hold a variety of marketing and general management roles in Europe and South East Asia. He originally joined the Management Board as Director, Western Europe in April 2008.
Des Naughton, Managing Director, Next Generation Products
Des was appointed Managing Director, Next Generation Products, in March 2013. He joined the Management Board as Director, Eastern Europe, in September 2010 before being appointed Group Operations Director in June 2011. Des was previously Regional Head of Marketing, Africa and Middle East. Since joining the company in 1995, he has held a number of general management and marketing roles across the world including Global Brand Director for Dunhill and General Manager, South Korea.
Ricardo Oberlander, Regional Director, Americas
Ricardo joined the Management Board as Regional Director for the Americas in January 2013. Ricardo joined Souza Cruz in May 1989 and has held various roles including Marketing Director of our Malaysian business, Regional Marketing Manager for the Americas, General Manager in France and Global Consumer Director.
Dr. David O’Reilly, Group Scientific Director
David was appointed Group Scientific Director, a new position on the Management Board, in January 2012. David who is currently Head of Group Research & Development (GR&D) has been with British American Tobacco for over 20 years and has held various positions in GR&D. He has led the Group’s R&D efforts to develop reduced toxicant products and has also been Head of International Public Health & Scientific Affairs, responsible for engagement with the scientific, medical and public health communities.
Naresh Sethi, Regional Director, Western Europe
Naresh was appointed Regional Director for Western Europe in January 2013. Naresh has over two decades of experience in the tobacco industry, holding various Marketing roles in India, Indonesia, West Africa and Australasia before moving to Japan. He was Marketing Director in Japan and then the Group’s General Manager there. He became Group Head of Strategy and Planning and was appointed Director, Group Business Development, a new position on the Management Board, in 2012.
Kingsley Wheaton, Director, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs
Kingsley became Director, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs in June 2012. He joined the Group in 1996 and has held a number of roles in Marketing. He was Marketing Director in Nigeria and Russia, before becoming General Manager in Russia, one of the Group’s most significant businesses. He was then the Global Brand Director responsible for Kent and Vogue before taking his place on the Management Board in January 2012 as Deputy Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Director.
Neil Withington, Director, Legal and General Counsel
Neil was appointed Legal Director and General Counsel of British American Tobacco in 2000, having previously been the Group’s Deputy General Counsel. He joined the Group in 1993 after a career at the Bar and in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries with ICI. He has been a Director of Reynolds American Inc. since July 2004.
