British American Tobacco Kenya - Marion Gathoga-Mwangi

Nationality: Kenyan
Age: 54

Position:
Independent Non-Executive Director since May 2020. Chairperson of the Board Remuneration Committee, member of the Board Audit & Risk Committee and member of the Anti-Illicit Trade Sub-Committee.

Leadership and experience:
Marion is a seasoned business leader with over two decades of senior executive experience across diverse industries including automotive, industrial gases, FMCG, professional services and media. She currently serves as the Managing Director of Inchcape Kenya, part of the Inchcape Group PLC, a global automotive distribution, retail and after-sales leader, where she leads the company’s strategic growth, operational performance and market expansion in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Prior to this role, Marion served as the Group Chief Executive Officer of Standard Media Group PLC. She also held senior leadership roles at African Oxygen Pty (AFROX), a Linde Company recognized for its global leadership in gases and engineering solutions, where she served as the Business Unit Director for Bulk and Onsites as well as Healthcare Director. Earlier in her career, she served as Managing Director of BOC Kenya Plc.

Marion’s career spans senior leadership positions across various multinational organisations including Inchcape Automotive, Nestlé Foods (K) Limited, Bayer East Africa Limited, Cadbury Kenya and East Africa (Kraft Foods), Unga Limited, Parmalat Botswana Pty (Groupe Lactalis) and The Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA). Through these roles she has built strong expertise in business transformation, operational excellence, stakeholder management and performance leadership across complex operating environments.

Academic and Professional Background:
Marion holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Honours) in International Business Administration from USIU-A and a Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching from Academy of Executive Coaches.

She is a part-time Academic Director for the Women in Leadership program at Strathmore Business School, thereby contributing to leadership development. Marion is a Member of the Women Corporate Directors (WCD) and Women on Boards Network, reflecting her commitment to advancing board diversity and leadership development.

Distinct Board Expertise:
Commercial leadership | Business transformation | Human capital | Organisational performance

Key Appointments:

• Director – Inchcape Kenya & Tanzania
• Director - ABSA Bank Kenya plc
• Trustee - Palmhouse Foundation