TENDAIISHE NYAMUKUNDA
British American Tobacco Zimbabwe (BAT)’s managing director Kimesh Naidoo and finance director Wilson Chitsonga, have departed the country’s largest cigarette maker following a surprise shake-up announced yesterday, Business Times can report.
Since then, Kenneth Gitonga , has taken over as BAT’s new managing director, succeeding Naidoo.
In addition, Lucy Irungu has been named to replace Chitsonga as BAT’s new finance director.
The development was revealed by Lovemore Manatsa, the BAT board chairman.
“The board of directors of BAT announces that (Kimesh) Naidoo has resigned as the managing director of BAT. (Wilson) Chitsonga has also resigned as the finance director of BAT.
Further, the board is pleased to announce that (Kenneth Gitonga has been appointed as the managing director of BAT, while (Lucy) Irungu has been appointed as the new finance director of BAT,” Manatsa said.
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. 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 BAT Group office in UK, among many other senior positions.
Irungu joined BAT in April 2020 as a Commercial Finance Manager and subsequently the position of Head of Finance Hon of Africa and Indian Ocean Island in 2021.
In April 2023, Irungu progressed to the role of Head of Commercial Finance.
BAT East &Southern Africa Markets, her immediate former role, based in Nairobi, Kenya.
She is a certified Public Accountant.
