KENYA – British American Tobacco Kenya plc (BAT Kenya), part of British American Tobacco, a multinational company that manufactures and sells cigarettes, tobacco and other nicotine products, has appointed Rita Kavashe as the Chair of the Company’s Board.
“Rita’s appointment comes at an ideal time, when the Company is accelerating its transformation agenda. BAT’s evolved corporate strategy and purpose – to deliver A Better Tomorrow for our stakeholders – is underpinned by an ambition to reduce the health impacts of our business,” BAT Kenya Managing Director, Mrs. Beverley Spencer-Obatoyinbo.
“Our new tobacco-free oral nicotine products are central to this ambition and Rita’s rich experience in the manufacturing and private sector will be invaluable as we look to localise manufacturing of the product through a KSh 2.5bn factory investment.”
Kavashe is currently the managing director of Isuzu East Africa, the largest motor vehicle assembler in East Africa.
“Rita’s appointment marks the first time in BAT Kenya’s history that it has had a woman chairing the Board. It means that BAT now have 40% female representation on the Board – a significant step in furthering the Company’s Gender diversity agenda, following BAT’s adoption of the UN Global Compact in 2019,” Mrs. Beverley added.
She replaces George Maina, who served as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the board for nine years.
“George has contributed immensely to the growth of BAT Kenya. He has led the Company through a period of major transformation, including overseeing the Company’s first step in its ambition to build a Better Tomorrow for its stakeholders. He leaves behind a much stronger and more sustainable organization,” Mrs. Beverley said.
The Board is confident that under Rita’s stewardship, alongside our talented employees, high quality brands and evolved corporate purpose, BAT Kenya is well poised to continue delivering sustained value to its shareholders and the larger economy.
BAT Kenya said that they will continue to invest in the country in support of the Government’s Big 4 Agenda as it focuses on building a modern company for a modern Kenya.
BAT Kenya was established in Kenya in 1907 and has been listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange since 1969. It has approximately 5,000 shareholders, of whom around 4,000 are local shareholders.
The Company is in the business of tobacco farming, tobacco processing, cigarette manufacture and the exporting and selling of cigarettes, other tobacco products and modern oral nicotine products.
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