Dyrbus to retire from Imperial Tobacco

Mark Williamson has been appointed deputy chairman of the board at Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, effective immediately.

Williamson joined the board in July 2007 and was appointed senior independent non-executive director in 2012, a role that he will continue to perform.

He was formerly CFO of International Power PLC and is a non-executive director of National Grid PLC and Alent PLC.

Meanwhile, Imperial’s finance director, Bob Dyrbus, who has been a senior executive with the company for 25 years and who has been finance director since the company’s listing in 1996, is to retire.

“On behalf of the board and our employees I would like to thank Bob for the huge contribution he’s made to our success,” said chairman, Iain Napier.

“As well as taking overall responsibility for the effective financial management and control of the group for many years, Bob’s played a key role in expanding our international operations through acquisitions that have created significant value for our shareholders.

“Bob is highly regarded within the business and will continue to work with the executive team on driving the group’s sales growth strategy during the process to appoint his successor.”

The process to appoint a successor is underway.