Imperial Tobacco Group PLC announces today that Gareth Davis, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), will be retiring on 12 May 2010.

The Board is pleased to announce that Alison Cooper, currently Imperial Tobacco Group Chief Operating Officer, will succeed Mr Davis as CEO with effect from 13 May 2010. Gareth and Alison will continue to work closely together to ensure an orderly handover during the next six months.

During more than 37 years at Imperial Tobacco Mr Davis has held a number of senior positions in the business. He was appointed CEO of Imperial Tobacco Limited in February 1996 and CEO of Imperial Tobacco Group PLC in August 1996. He led the successful demerger of the Company from Hanson PLC and its listing on the London Stock Exchange in October 1996. Under Mr Davis's leadership, Imperial Tobacco Group has developed from a predominantly UK business into one of the world's leading international tobacco companies.

Iain Napier, Imperial Tobacco Group Chairman, said: "Gareth has made an outstanding contribution over the years, transforming Imperial Tobacco into a global tobacco business and one of the UK's strongest companies. Through his strategic direction we have considerably expanded our international operations and diversified our tobacco portfolio, creating significant value for our shareholders in the process.

"Gareth is a world class leader and will remain in post until May next year, allowing us to benefit from his expertise and ensuring a smooth and efficient handover process.

"Gareth has built a first class senior management team around him and I am very pleased to announce Alison as his successor, following a rigorous review of potential candidates both internally and externally. Alison has an exemplary track record in our business and has played a key role in driving our international expansion. Her leadership capabilities and strategic vision will ensure that Imperial Tobacco continues to evolve and maximise growth opportunities."

Gareth Davis said: "It has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to lead the international development of Imperial Tobacco. I am very proud of what we have achieved and the business is very well placed for continued growth and superior shareholder returns.

"I'm delighted that the Board has decided that Alison should succeed me as Chief Executive. She has the skills and expertise to drive the future growth of the business and I know she will do a first class job."

Alison Cooper said: "I am looking forward to the challenge of leading Imperial Tobacco and building on our track record of delivering superior shareholder returns. Our focus on effective cost and cash management has underpinned our success and will remain hallmarks of our business, whilst our enhanced focus on sales and consumers will ensure that we continue to leverage our portfolio and drive growth across our international footprint."

Biographical Details

Gareth Davis

Gareth Davis, 59, was appointed CEO of Imperial Tobacco Limited in February 1996 and CEO of Imperial Tobacco Group PLC in August 1996.  He led the successful demerger of the Company from Hanson PLC and its listings on the London Stock Exchange in October 1996 and the New York Stock Exchange in November 1998.

Under Gareth's leadership, Imperial Tobacco Group has been transformed from a predominantly UK business into one of the world's leading international tobacco companies.

After leaving The University of Sheffield with a dual Honours degree in Economics and Geography, Gareth joined WD & HO Wills, part of Imperial Tobacco, as a management trainee in 1972.

He held various manufacturing roles before his appointment as Cigarette Manufacturing Director of Imperial Tobacco Limited in 1987. Within three months he had taken on the additional role of Managing Director of Imperial Tobacco International.

The €5.2 billion acquisition of Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH in May 2002 transformed Imperial into the world's fourth largest international tobacco company, a position cemented in January 2008 by the €16.2 billion acquisition of the Franco-Spanish company Altadis.

Gareth has also served as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Wolseley PLC since July 2003 and is currently Senior Independent Non-Executive Director.

Alison Cooper

Alison, 43, 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.

She was appointed Chief Operating Officer in March 2009, with additional responsibilities for all sales and marketing, manufacturing and cigar business activities.

In June 2009 Alison joined Inchcape PLC as a Non-Executive Director.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Imperial Tobacco group PLC is a multi-national tobacco company with international strength in cigarettes and world leadership in fine cut tobacco, cigars, rolling papers and tubes. The Group has 56 manufacturing sites and around 38,000 employees.

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