Cigarette manufacturer Savanna Tobacco is gearing to expand its footprint on the African continent and has made key changes to its structures in pursuit of that objective, the company said yesterday. The Savanna group, chaired by Adam Molai, announced appointment of two key executives namely Mr Nick Hales as its global chief executive officer and Mr Douglas Mamvura as chief marketing officer.

Announcing the appointments, the cigarette manufacturer said; “As part of the company’s growth into regional and continental markets, we embarked on an exhaustive recruitment of global skills and capacity to drive our visions on strategic and operational levels.” The appointments are effective September 1. Last year Savanna Tobacco, which has operations in Zimbabwe and exports to countries such as South Africa and Zambia, announced plans to set up a $2 million packaging plant in Mozambique.

The firm, which has been in operations for slightly over a decade, has made serious inroads in a market previously dominated by British American Tobacco (BAT Zimbabwe) which produces popular cigarette brands such as Madison and Kingsgate. Savanna Tobacco, which prides itself as “manufacturers of Zimbabwe’s finest cigarettes” produces the Pacific brand of cigarettes, has on numerous times cried foul, accusing its competitors and cartels, of scheming to sabotage its attempts to penetrate foreign markets.

Currently producing over two billion sticks per annum, the firm is targeting to become Africa’s second biggest manufacturer in the next decade. The firm said Mr Hales, who has previously worked in South Asia, Central America, the Caribbean and Africa, has 27 years of experience in the tobacco industry. “Nick Hales leads the team as Global CEO, with specific responsibility for leading the strategic and operational aspects our expansion,” the company said. Mr Mamvura, a marketer, has been tasked with “driving brands across Africa.” – New Ziana.