Directorate Change

British American Tobacco PLC
09 December 2004



                           NON EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT

British American Tobacco announces that Mr. Robert Lerwill is joining the Board
as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 January 2005.

Robert Lerwill, who is 52, is an economics graduate and a chartered accountant
who was for 10 years the Group Finance Director of WPP Group plc.  He then
joined Cable & Wireless plc as Executive Director, Finance.  He also became
Chief Executive of Cable & Wireless Regional.  He is currently a Non-Executive
Director of Aegis Group plc.

Welcoming Robert to the Board, Jan du Plessis, Chairman of British American
Tobacco, said:  "I am delighted to welcome Robert to our Board.  We will
obviously benefit from his financial expertise as well as his extensive
international experience."



                                   ENQUIRIES
                     British American Tobacco Press Office
               David Betteridge, Teresa La Thangue or Ann Tradigo
                              [phone]


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