Durante to Succeed Adams Next Year at BAT

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 06/25/2010

Nicandro Durante will become chief executive of British American Tobacco plc on the retirement of Paul Adams at the end of February next year. Durante will become chief executive designate on September 1. Meanwhile, John Daly will take over on September 1 Durante's current role as COO. And, from the same date, finance director, Ben Stevens, will take on the additional role of chief information officer, which will be of key importance in transforming the group into a more integrated global business. Durante, who is Brazilian/Italian, joined BAT in 1981 and his major appointments have included director, Africa and Middle East, president of Souza Cruz and other senior management roles in Brazil, the UK and Hong Kong. Daly, who is Irish, has been director, Asia-Pacific since 2004, having joined the group in 1994. He held a number of key roles in Europe and the Far East before becoming area director for the Middle East and North Africa in 2001. On the Management Board, Daly will be succeeded as regional director, Asia-Pacific, by David Fell, who will move from his role as director, Eastern Europe. Fell, who is British, joined the Group in 1995 and has held a wide range of senior management roles. He will be succeeded by Des Naughton, currently regional head of marketing, Africa and Middle East. In addition to these executive appointments, Kieran Poynter, formerly the chairman and senior partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, will become a non-executive director with effect from July 1. Enditem