BAT FD Rayner steps down
Ben Stevens to replace departing FD Paul Rayner who is leaving the tobacco giant for 'family reasons'
Paul Rayner has announced that he will be giving up his coveted role as FD of
British American Tobacco for ‘family reasons.’
After retiring on 30 April at the company’s AGM, Rayner will be leaving the
UK to head back to Australia, and the FTSE 100 company has already lined up his
replacement.
BAT
said:’Ben Stevens, currently Regional Director, Europe, will be joining the
board on 3 March 2008, and will succeed Paul Rayner as finance director when he
steps down.’
Jan du Plessis, chairman of British American Tobacco said: ‘Our thoughts are
very much with Paul and his family at this difficult time. We are not only
losing a brilliant finance director, but somebody who is widely respected and
much liked by his colleagues worldwide.’
Stevens first joined the BATin 1990 and has held financial and general
management roles in several countries around the world. He was promoted to the
management Board in 2001, with responsibility, amongst others, for M&A and
corporate strategy, prior to taking on his current role as Regional Director,
Europe in 2004.
Du Plessis added: ‘It is nevertheless testimony to the quality of the Group’s
management that we have an immediately available successor of Ben’s calibre.
With his tremendous experience and in-depth knowledge of our business, I have no
doubt that our group’s finances will be in good hands.’