British American Tobacco - Javed Iqbal

I am honoured to be part of the Management Board as Director, Digital and Information and excited to lead the next phase of BAT’s digital transformation. On 15 May 2023 I was also appointed Interim Finance Director.

I joined BAT as a Management Trainee in 1996 and have held several roles across the BAT world – most recently as the Area Director for Middle East, South Asia and North Africa. Having worked in many multicultural environments, characterised by dynamic operating models, I am well-placed to lead strategic change across geographies, including systems and process transformation. My forte is developing high-performing teams and delivering commercial results, which is a focus in this role as well.

I am inspired by leadership styles that resonate best with my personality: to be people-focused, live the values you aspire to, and ensure long-term sustainability. I encourage my teams to break barriers and encourage innovative thinking. This will allow us to unlock commercial value by embedding digitally-agile ways of working.

What fascinated me when I joined BAT was the company’s international footprint and truly multicultural working environment. This remains true today, as does the shared belief to deliver with integrity – allied to the authenticity of our ambition to build A Better Tomorrow™.

I truly cherish the people I have met through BAT over the years. My family and I have travelled a lot with my work and no matter where you are, you make friends and connect with people who become friends for life.

Nationality: Pakistani

Career to date

• 1996: Joins Pakistan Tobacco Company as a Management Trainee, Finance. Rises to become Senior Commercial Finance Manager
• 2005: Moves to BAT Korea as Finance Controller
• 2009: Appointed at as Finance Manager, Marketing, based at BAT’s global headquarters in London, UK
• 2011: Joins BAT Switzerland as Finance Director
• 2014: Returns to Pakistan as Director for Finance & IDT for South Asia Cluster
• 2016: Becomes Managing Director/CEO for PTC and Area Director of the South Asia Area (later South Asia Cluster)
• 2019: Appointed as Area Director for Middle East & South Asia (Middle East, South Asia and North Africa as of 1st Jan 2022)
• April 2022: Joins BAT’s Management Board as Director, Digital and Information
• May 2023: appointed Interim Finance Director.

Education

• MBA in Finance & Management Information Systems - Bahauddin Zakariya University, Pakistan
• Post graduate diploma in System Analysis & Design - Bahauddin Zakariya University, Pakistan

Personal interests

I am married and a proud father of four; a daughter and three sons. I am blessed to have a very supportive life-partner, who inspires me to be a better version of myself every day. Other than spending time with my family, I enjoy literature and Netflix, and have a passion for landscape photography – something my friends following me on social media can vouch for!