BAT CFO Transition: Soraya Benchikh Steps Down, Digital & Information Director Javed Iqbal to Serve as Interim Successor

Key Points

Personnel Change: Soraya Benchikh will step down as BAT’s CFO and Board member effective August 26, 2025, and complete the transition by the end of the year.

Interim Arrangement: Digital & Information Director Javed Iqbal will serve as Interim CFO, having previously acted as Interim Finance Director between 2023 and 2024.
Management Remarks: CEO Tadeu Marroco expressed gratitude for Soraya’s long-standing contributions and emphasized the company’s progress in performance and transformation strategy.
Departure Statement: Soraya said she is proud of strengthening financial discipline and advancing profitability in “New Categories,” and wished BAT success in the future.

According to BAT’s official announcement, British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BAT) stated on August 26 that its CFO and Board member Soraya Benchikh would step down from her position effective immediately, and would continue to assist with the transition until the end of 2025.

BAT has officially launched the process of selecting a successor for the CFO role. Until a permanent appointment is made, the company’s Digital & Information Director Javed Iqbal will serve as Interim CFO. Javed previously held the Interim Finance Director position from May 2023 to April 2024 and brings extensive experience in managing the Group’s financial operations.

BAT Chief Executive Officer Tadeu Marroco said in the announcement: “Over the years, Soraya has made significant contributions in various roles across the Group. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank her for her efforts, particularly during her tenure as CFO since returning to the Group in 2024. We remain confident in our transformation strategy and will provide further updates in our December trading update.”

In her farewell statement, Soraya Benchikh said: “I am proud of the achievements we have made at BAT in strengthening financial discipline and driving profitable growth in New Categories. This was made possible thanks to the talented and dedicated teams I had the privilege of working with across BAT. Now is the right time for me to embark on my next chapter. I wish the BAT team every success in taking the business to new heights.”

BAT added that all relevant remuneration arrangements are in line with the Directors’ Remuneration Policy approved at the April 2025 Annual General Meeting. In accordance with Section 430(2B) of the UK Companies Act 2006, details regarding Benchikh’s departure from the Board will be published on bat.com in due course and will remain available until included in the company’s 2025 Directors’ Remuneration Report in the Annual Report.