BAT hit by resignations, make appointments

Business Writer

TWO senior British American Tobacco Zimbabwe (Holdings) Limited officials – the managing director and finance director- resigned on the same day in late March.

Former managing director, Mr Kimesh Naidoo had been in the role since June 2023 resigned on March 25.

Mr Wilson Chitsonga who was finance director also left the firm on March 25.

He was appointed in September 2022.

The Board of Directors has since appointed Mr Kenneth Gitonga as the Managing Director, effective March 26.

“Mr Gitonga re-joined BAT Kenya in April 2017, having initially joined the Company in 2011 as a Brand Manager for the then BAT East and Central Africa Markets Cluster. Mr Gitonga has held various senior roles within BAT, including Trade Marketing Manager for the Americas and Sub-Sahara Africa region and subsequently, International Brand Manager for the Modern Oral Nicotine portfolio, based at the BAT Group office in UK, Head of Activations for the East and Southern Africa Area based in South Africa and his immediate former role as Head of Commercial for BAT East and Southern Africa Markets based in Kenya,” the firm said.

The firm also appointed Ms Lucy Irungu as finance director effective 26 March 2024.

Ms Irungu is a certified Public Accountant of Kenya and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and an MBA in Finance and International Business.

 

She joined BAT in April 2020 as a Commercial Finance Manager and subsequently the position of Head of Finance Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean Islands in 2021.

 

“In April 2023, Ms Irungu progressed to the role of Head of Commercial Finance, BAT East and  Southern Africa Markets, her immediate former role, based in Nairobi, Kenya.”