BAT director quits after losing out on CEO job
British American Tobacco's chief marketing officer Andrew Gray has quit the cigarette maker after a 32-year career, just two weeks after he was overlooked for the top job.
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He will be replaced by Kingsley Wheaton, currently regional director for the Americas and sub Saharan Africa, who has been with the FTSE 100 company for 22 years and a member of the management board for seven.
Just two weeks ago, BAT promoted Jack Bowles, chief operating officer of its international business, to the role of chief executive, succeeding Nicandro Durante.
Gray was seen as a contender for the CEO role.
Durante thanks thank Gray for his "outstanding leadership and service to BAT over his highly successful", highlighting his "calm demeanour, his strategic thinking and his considerable experience".
Looking to Wheaton, he hailed a a "dynamic" leader, bringing "an enormous amount of marketing knowledge and passion" to the role. "At this transformative time for our company, his experience of running and growing our potentially reduced-risk products business will be particularly important for the future growth of the business".
Bowles joined in too, saying he had worked with Kingsley for a long time and had "no doubt that he is an excellent fit for this role".