RAI Sets Post-Acquisition Leadership Team

Reynolds American Inc. has unveiled the leadership team it expects to have in place after its anticipated acquisition by British American Tobacco closes later this year.

Debra Crew will remain as chief executive officer and president of RAI. Should the acquisition be successfully completed, she will report to Nicandro Durante, president and CEO of BAT. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter.

Andrew Gilchrist, currently executive vice president and chief financial officer of RAI, intends to resign from the company shortly thereafter, the company announced. Gilchrist's replacement will be named in the future and report to Crew.

Also intending to leave after the closing are Cressida Lozano, executive vice president of consumer marketing for RJRT, and J. Brice O'Brien, evp of public affairs and chief communications officer. 

"Our companies owe [Gilchrist, O'Brien and Lozano] tremendous thanks for their leadership and commitment to our shared success," Crew said. "Should these resignations occur, we wish them all the best in their future endeavors."

However, the majority of senior executives at RAI and its subsidiaries will remain, including:

• Michael Auger, president of RAI Trade Marketing Services Co.
• Lisa Caldwell, executive vice president and chief human resources officer of RAI, RAI Services Co. and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
• Joseph Fragnito, president and chief commercial officer of RJRT.
• Carolyn Hanigan, president of RAI Innovations Co.
• Nancy Hawley, executive vice president of operations of RJRT.
• Daniel Herko, executive vice president of R&D of RJRT and executive vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs of RAIS.
• Martin L. Holton III, executive vice president of legal and external affairs and general counsel of RAI and RAIS. He also will assume O'Brien's former duties.
• N. Winton Jennette, senior vice president of strategy and planning of RJRT.
• Kevan Ostrander, vice president of information management of RAIS. 
• Mark Peters, senior vice president of decision support and transition planning of RAIS and chief financial officer of RJRT.

"I'm delighted that so many of our companies' strong, seasoned leaders will remain in their roles following completion of the proposed acquisition," Crew said. "As a group, we are committed to our shared vision of transforming the U.S. tobacco industry, and we are confident that being part of a much larger, global organization will enable us to achieve this vision and amplify our success."

BAT ranks 23rd and RAI 52nd on CGT's Top 100 Consumer Goods Companies list for 2016.