BAT Appoints Rita Kavashe As Board Chair

Isuzu East Africa Managing Director Rita Kavashe has been installed as the British American Tobacco (BAT) Kenya new board chairperson.

Outgoing chair, George Maina, retired recently. “George has contributed immensely to the growth of BAT Kenya he has led the company through a period of major transformation, including overseeing the Company’s first step in its ambition to build A Better Tomorrow for its stakeholders, ” said BAT Kenya Managing Director Beverley Spencer-Obatoyinbo.

Rita Kavashe holds a long-running in Kenya’s corporate sector having been at the helm of Isuzu motors for 25 years.

She holds additional roles as the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Vice-Chair and serves as a member of the Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Board. Additionally, she is a non-executive Director at Bamburi Cement.

Kavashe holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Moi University and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Nairobi.

BAT hopes to tap into Kavashe’s knowledge to  continue delivering sustained value to its shareholders and the larger economy.

“Our new tobacco-free oral nicotine products are central to this ambition and Rita’s rich experience in the manufacturing and private sector will be invaluable as we look to localise manufacturing of the product through a Sh2.5bn factory investment,” Spencer noted while announcing Kavashe’s appointment.

Kavashe currently works as the managing director of Isuzu East Africa, the largest motor vehicle assembler in East Africa.