Beverley Spencer-Obatoyinbo

Beverley Spencer-Obatoyinbo was appointed as Managing Director at British American Tobacco Kenya (BATK) in May 2017,¹ replacing Keith Gretton.² She is also the Area Director for BAT East and Central Africa Area.¹

Long-Standing Career with BAT

Spencer-Obatoyinbo joined BAT in 1996 and has held several senior positions, including:¹³⁴

• Area Director of BAT Swiss Cluster, Western Europe Region (2014 – 2017);
• Head of Human Resources for BAT East Europe, Africa and Middle East Region (2013 – 2014);
• Area Director for BAT West Africa Area (2010 – 2012);
• General Manager for BAT Egypt (2007 – 2010);
• Marketing Director for BAT Nigeria (2004 – 2007);
• Head of Trade Marketing & Distribution, Nigeria (2002 – 2004);

In 2010, she was appointed board member of the BAT Nigeria Foundation, a limited company set up by BAT in 2002 under a commitment to the Nigerian government, to “contribute to Nigeria’s socio-economic development”.⁵
Since taking up her post in Kenya, Spencer-Obatoyinbo has been quoted in the media arguing against changes in national tax regulations and increases in excise duty, and more recently the introduction of a tobacco control bill in Nairobi.

Against Tobacco Policy and Regulation in Kenya

BAT Kenya has been urging the Government to review its taxation policy on tobacco with Spencer-Obatoyinbo stating that it ‘’holds back the government led war against counterfeit and smuggled tobacco,’’⁶ an argument commonly used to undermine tobacco control policies which is not supported by the evidence.⁷.⁸
At BAT Kenya’s AGM in 2018, she said the government should not implement the proposed 5.2% increase in excise duty on cigarettes under the Financial Bill 2018, and instead consider ‘’putting more resources in creating an environment favourable to business.’’⁹

Challenged Nairobi Tobacco Control Bill 2018

BAT claimed that the Nairobi City County Tobacco Bill 2018, which proposes the creation of a new department responsible for tobacco control and health, including issuing licences to tobacco retailers, represented “over-regulation”.¹⁰ Spencer-Obatoyinbo argued that this bill would disrupt retail business and increase illicit trade,¹⁰ arguments restated by business organisations in Kenya.¹¹

• For more information on BAT’s tactics in Kenya, see Kenya- BAT’s Tactics to Undermine the Tobacco Control Regulations
• For more background on the tobacco industry in Kenya, see Kenya- Country Profile

TobaccoTactics Resources

• British American Tobacco
• Kenya- BAT’s Tactics to Undermine the Tobacco Control Regulations
• Kenya- Country Profile

Relevant Link

British American Tobacco Kenya Website