Des Naughton resigns from Nicoventures: British American Tobacco loses ecigarette managing director
Des Naughton, managing director of British American Tobacco (BAT) ecigarettes subsidiary Nicoventures, has resigned from the group, it said in a statement yesterday.
Naughton will leave BAT on 28 February 2015 after nearly 20 years with the tobacco giant, four of which has been on the management board. In that time, he has also been group operations director and regional director for Eastern Europe.
BAT said Naughton had decided to leave the group to “focus on new business opportunities”.
Chief executive Nicandro Durante said: “We will miss Des’ passion for the business, strategic thinking and warmth of personality. Des has built a strong foundation for the group for us to compete and win in next generation products.”
Kingsley Wheaton, currently group corporate and regulatory affairs director, will replace Naughton.
Wheaton will be appointed to the newly created role of managing director of next generation products effective 1 January 2015.