RAI Makes Multiple Management Changes
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) has made several executive changes at both RAI and its largest subsidiary, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. All the changes will be effective Oct. 1.
Debra A. Crew, currently president and chief commercial officer of R.J. Reynolds, will become president and chief operating officer of the company. She will assume management responsibility for the company's manufacturing operations and research and development functions, in addition to her ongoing responsibility for the consumer and trade marketing functions.
Nancy H. Hawley, currently senior vice president of operations at R.J. Reynolds, will be promoted to executive vice president of operations for the company.
In addition, Daniel J. Herko, currently senior vice president of research and development for R.J. Reynolds, will be promoted to executive vice president of research and development for the company. He will also become an executive vice president of RAI Services Co., and will be responsible for managing regulatory oversight for RAI's subsidiaries.
When Crew assumes her new responsibilities on Oct. 1, Jeffery S. Gentry, currently R.J. Reynolds' executive vice president of operations and chief scientific officer, will move to a project role overseeing the ongoing integration of Lorillard operations into subsidiaries of RAI.
Gentry plans to retire sometime in the first half of 2016.
Thomas R. Adams, who served as RAI's executive vice president and chief financial officer from 2008 to March 2015, and has been overseeing the integration of Lorillard operations, will to retire on Oct. 1 when Gentry assumes responsibility for overseeing the integration.
"Reynolds American places great importance on its talent-development and succession planning processes," said Susan M. Cameron, RAI's president and CEO. "As a result, we have a talented pool of top-notch executives ready to move into key leadership roles for our companies. Strong people and strong brands are the keys to success in consumer packaged goods businesses, and Reynolds American and its subsidiaries are fortunate to have both."
RAI also announced it has been recognized as a leader in corporate sustainability by being awarded membership in the 2015-2016 Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index, effective Sept. 21.
The company is one of only 145 North American companies on the index. This is the seventh year RAI has been awarded membership in the index. Companies are selected based on an extensive evaluation of many criteria, including corporate governance, risk management, energy consumption, climate change strategies, supply chain standards and human resources development.
Based in Winston-Salem, RAI is the parent company of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.; Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. Inc.; American Snuff Co. LLC; Niconovum USA Inc.; Niconovum AB; and R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co.