WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Debra A. Crew will become president and chief operating officer of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. The move is among several executive changes that Reynolds American Inc. has announced at both RAI and R.J. Reynolds, its largest subsidiary. All of the changes will be effective Oct. 1, 2015.
Crew, currently president and chief commercial officer of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, 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.
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. Herko 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, 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, now plans to retire on October 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."
Reynolds American Inc. 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.
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco's brands include Newport, Camel and Pall Mall cigarettes; American Snuff's brands include Grizzly and Kodiak smokeless tobacco products; Santa Fe Natural Tobacco manufactures and markets Natural American Spirit 100% additive-free natural tobacco products, including styles made with organic tobacco; Niconovum USA and Niconovum AB market nicotine replacement therapy products in the United States and Sweden, respectively, under the Zonnic brand name; and R.J. Reynolds Vapor manufactures and markets Vuse electronic cigarettes.
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