British American Tobacco Appoints Soraya Benchikh as New CFO

British American Tobacco (BAT) has announced the appointment of Soraya Benchikh as its next Chief Financial Officer. Her new role will commence on May 1, succeeding interim Finance Director Javed Iqbal.

Benchikh's Impressive Background

Benchikh, the current Europe President at Diageo, joined the renowned drinks company in 2020 as the Managing Director for Northern Europe. However, her journey in the industry began over 20 years ago at BAT. During her tenure at BAT, Benchikh held several key positions, including President of BAT France, Area Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, and Regional Finance Director for Europe. Prior to her time at BAT, she gained valuable finance experience at General Electric and Gillette.

A Perfect Fit for the Role

Chairman Luc Jobin expressed the company's confidence in Benchikh, stating that her extensive leadership experience, combined with her commercial acumen in both finance and commercial roles, makes her an exceptional fit for the position. He emphasized Benchikh's successful track record in various geographies and deep understanding of the sector.

This exciting appointment signals BAT's commitment to driving growth and enhancing its financial capabilities.