Imperial Tobacco Group PLC today announces, with immediate effect, the appointment of Alison Cooper to the new role of Chief Operating Officer.

Alison will be responsible for all sales and marketing, manufacturing and cigar business activities. She will also retain her former corporate development responsibilities, which include strategic planning, business development, corporate affairs and the integration of Altadis. She will report to Chief Executive Gareth Davis.

Iain Napier, Imperial Tobacco Group Chairman, said:

"I am delighted to announce Alison's appointment as Chief Operating Officer. Alison has extensive commercial experience and has made a significant contribution to the success of Imperial Tobacco.

"Alison will focus on driving the operational performance and strategic direction of the business, ensuring that we maximise our long-term future growth potential. She will also continue to manage the smooth integration of Altadis into the wider Group.

"Alison's appointment is also a further step in ensuring that our Board structure is aligned with the ongoing international development of our enlarged business."

Biographical Details

Alison Cooper

She joined Imperial Tobacco in 1999 and has since held a number of senior roles. She was previously with PricewaterhouseCoopers where she had worked with Imperial Tobacco for several years in a number of areas, including acquisitions.

Alison became Group Financial Controller in 2001 and was responsible for the financial management and control of the Group, including the financial evaluation of acquisitions, corporate planning and development, and investor relations.

Following the acquisition of Reemtsma in 2002, she took on responsibility for the tax matters of the Group. In 2003 she became Director of Finance & Planning and a member of the Chief Executive's Committee, the senior management steering group responsible for implementing Group strategy.

In 2005 Alison was appointed Sales and Marketing Regional Director for Western Europe. She was appointed to the Board as Corporate Development Director in July 2007, with responsibility for strategic planning, business development and corporate affairs, and she was a key member of the Altadis acquisition team.

Enquiries

Gerry Gallagher
Director of Investor Communications
Tel: +44 (0)7813 917 339

Alex Parsons
Head of Corporate Communications
Tel: +44 (0)7967 467 241

Simon Evans
Group Press Officer
Tel: +44 (0)7967 467 684

John Nelson-Smith
Investor Relations Manager
Tel: +44 (0)7919 391 866

Nicola Tate
Investor Relations Manager
Tel: +44 (0)7967 467 082