British American Tobacco Names Soraya Benchikh as its new CFO

Soraya Benchikh is scheduled to assume the position of Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director at British American Tobacco (NYSE: BTI) (BAT (LON: BATS) effective from May 1, 2024. Benchikh will take over from interim Finance Director Javed Iqbal in this role at the FTSE 100 company, known for its cigarette brands such as Kent, Dunhill, and Lucky Strike.

The appointment was met with praise from BAT’s Chairman, Luc Jobin, and CEO, Tadeu Marroco. Both leaders commended Benchikh’s leadership skills, commercial acumen, and comprehensive understanding of the sector. Benchikh herself expressed eagerness to rejoin BAT and accelerate its transformation strategy.

Benchikh brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having previously served as President at beverage company Diageo (LON: DGE) plc and holding various positions during her 20-year tenure at BAT. These roles included Regional Finance Director for Europe, Area Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, and President of BAT France. Before her time at BAT, Benchikh also held finance roles at General Electric (NYSE: GE) and Gillette.

In accordance with the Directors’ Remuneration Policy, Benchikh’s salary has been set at £800,000 per annum. This appointment is part of BAT’s ongoing commitment to health, as demonstrated by its efforts to reduce health impacts through the development of less risky products. In 2022, BAT reported revenue of £27.65 billion and an operational profit of £10.5 billion.

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