The British American Tobacco (BAT) named insider Jack
Bowles to succeed Nicandro Durante as CEO on Tuesday, giving him the
task of adapting to new tobacco formats as smoking declines.
"I am confident that we will take full advantage of these
opportunities as we accelerate the transformation of BAT into a stronger multi-category tobacco and nicotine products company," Bowles said in a statement noting his appointment.
Shares in the maker of Lucky Strike and Dunhill cigarettes fell more than 2% and were the top loser on the UK blue-chip index following the appointment of Bowles, who is chief operating officer of BAT's international business.
Bowles joined the world's second-biggest international tobacco
company by revenue in 2004 and has worked in the Western Europe,
Americas and Asia-Pacific regions. He will become CEO designate on
November 1 and join the board on January 1.
Durante plans to retire on April 1 after nearly 37 years with BAT. Although its shares have risen about 50% during his near eight-year tenure as CEO, they have fallen more than 23% in the past 12 months.
Jefferies analyst Owen Bennett said last week that he hoped the change would prompt improved disclosure and communication.
BAT said in July that it was confident of exceeding £1bn in revenue from next-generation products in 2018, as new launches should bolster growth in the second half after a slowdown in some key markets such as Japan and Korea.
It plans to test its new Eclipse tobacco heating device in the US in 2018, seeking to overtake Philip Morris in the world's biggest vaping market.
Philip Morris leads in the global tobacco heating market with its IQOS device. Companies say these devices may be more satisfying to smokers than traditional e-cigarettes because they are made with tobacco rather than nicotine-laced liquid.
Rival British tobacco company Imperial Brands announced plans on Tuesday to launch a heated tobacco product early in 2019.
Reuters
"I am confident that we will take full advantage of these
opportunities as we accelerate the transformation of BAT into a stronger multi-category tobacco and nicotine products company," Bowles said in a statement noting his appointment.
Shares in the maker of Lucky Strike and Dunhill cigarettes fell more than 2% and were the top loser on the UK blue-chip index following the appointment of Bowles, who is chief operating officer of BAT's international business.
Bowles joined the world's second-biggest international tobacco
company by revenue in 2004 and has worked in the Western Europe,
Americas and Asia-Pacific regions. He will become CEO designate on
November 1 and join the board on January 1.Durante plans to retire on April 1 after nearly 37 years with BAT. Although its shares have risen about 50% during his near eight-year tenure as CEO, they have fallen more than 23% in the past 12 months.
Jefferies analyst Owen Bennett said last week that he hoped the change would prompt improved disclosure and communication.
BAT said in July that it was confident of exceeding £1bn in revenue from next-generation products in 2018, as new launches should bolster growth in the second half after a slowdown in some key markets such as Japan and Korea.
It plans to test its new Eclipse tobacco heating device in the US in 2018, seeking to overtake Philip Morris in the world's biggest vaping market.
Philip Morris leads in the global tobacco heating market with its IQOS device. Companies say these devices may be more satisfying to smokers than traditional e-cigarettes because they are made with tobacco rather than nicotine-laced liquid.
Rival British tobacco company Imperial Brands announced plans on Tuesday to launch a heated tobacco product early in 2019.
Reuters
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