WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Debra A. Crew has been named president and chief commercial officer of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., effective Oct. 1.
Crew is currently the president and general manager of PepsiCo North America Nutrition. She joined PepsiCo in 2010 as president of the Western Europe region of PepsiCo Europe. In 2012, she was named president of PepsiCo Americas Beverage. She assumed her current role earlier in 2014.
Prior to joining PepsiCo, Crew was general manager of grocery brands and U.S. pet-care products for Mars Inc. Before joining Mars, she held a number of marketing positions at both Nestle SA and Kraft Foods Inc. Crew served in the U.S. Army from 1993 to 1997, rising to the rank of captain and military intelligence officer.
Andrew D. Gilchrist, the current president and chief commercial officer of R.J. Reynolds, will become executive vice president of parent company Reynolds American Inc., effective Oct. 1.
Gilchrist will help Crew transition into her new role. The company will offer details on his role as a member of RAI's leadership team following this transition period.
"We are delighted to welcome Debra to our leadership team," said Susan M. Cameron, president and CEO of RAI. "Her experience in growing some of America's best-known consumer brands is extraordinary and we believe she can play a key role in our mission to lead the transformation of the tobacco industry," she said.
"I expect Debra's transition to our industry will be smooth and swift," Cameron said. "Having Andrew's 17 years of experience in the tobacco industry to draw upon during her initial months here will be a great asset to her. Andrew's leadership and contributions during his four years in the role of president and chief commercial officer of R.J. Reynolds were outstanding. I am sure he will bring Debra up to speed quickly, before moving on to his new leadership role at RAI," she added.
Reynolds American, Winston-Salem, N.C., is the parent company of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., the second-largest U.S. tobacco company with brands including Camel, Pall Mall, Winston, Kool, Doral, Salem, Misty and Capri; American Snuff Co. LLC, the nation's second-largest manufacturer of smokeless tobacco products, with brands including Grizzly and Kodiak; Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. Inc., which manufactures and markets Natural American Spirit 100% additive-free natural tobacco products; Niconovum USA Inc.; Niconovum AB, which market nicotine replacement therapy products in the United States and Sweden, respectively, under the Zonnic brand; and R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co., which makes and markets Vuse e-cigarettes.
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