Non-smoker Burrows to take the helm at BAT

LONDON: British American Tobacco, the world's second-biggest cigarette maker, has recruited Richard Burrows, the former chairman of Bank of Ireland (BoI), to be its new chairman.

The maker of Kent, Dunhill, Lucky Strike and Pall Mall cigarettes said yesterday Burrows, a non-smoker, would succeed Jan du Plessis, who is stepping down on Nov 1 after five years as chairman to take on the same role at miner Rio Tinto.

Shares in BAT were down 1.6 percent at 1,870 pence at 5:53 am EDT, valuing the business at 36.8 billion pounds ($60.6 billion).