Change to Board of Directors

British American Tobacco PLC
7 June 2000


BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO


British American Tobacco announces the appointment of David Swann as
Head of Treasury and Group Treasurer.  David will take over when Richard
Desmond retires on 30 September 2000.

David Swann joins British American Tobacco from KPMG, where he has been
leading the treasury consulting team's business development, having
previously worked for a number of blue chip companies and PwC's
international treasury consulting group.  He is an active member of the
Association of Corporate Treasurers and is on the Editorial Board of
'Treasury Today'.

Commenting on the appointment, Keith Dunt, British American Tobacco's
Finance Director, said:

'There is only one Richard Desmond but I am confident that David will be
an admirable successor.  All of us wish Richard a long and busy
retirement after all his successes with our treasury and funding
programmes over the past 17 years.'

For further information, please contact:

Ralph Edmondson, Head of Investor Relations, British American Tobacco
Tel. [phone]

British American Tobacco Press Office
Tel. [phone]