Stuart Brazier Email & Phone Number

Stuart joined AIR in January 2019 as Chief Financial Officer and transitioned to Chief Executive Officer in January 2024. With a clear vision for the future, he is dedicated to positioning AIR as the global leader and most innovative force in the Advanced Inhalation Rituals industry.Before joining AIR, Stuart accumulated 23 years of international business experience from British American Tobacco (BAT), where he held prominent roles, including the Regional Head of Finance for BAT’s European division, Area Director for North Africa and Regional Manager for Asia Pacific. He holds a degree in Economics and Accountancy and has completed executive programs at both Harvard Business School and IMD. Stuart is also a Chartered Management Accountant.

Promoted to the role of CFO for BAT’s Western Europe/Europe and North Africa division, a circa. £6.0 billion net turnover business unit that delivers annual profits of circa £2.3bn to the Group. The entity comprises all elements of the manufacturing and commercial value chain (Regional office, 9 business unit offices, 64 markets, 17 factories, 16,000 employees / 650 under functional supervision).Reporting to the Divisional Director for ENA and functionally to the Group CFO, I exercise a broad scope of authority, including executive guidance and decision-making for all key aspects of pricing, marketing investment, business expansion and acquisitions, external relationships, organisation target setting, strategic & operational finance, and risk management & controls.

Responsible for the North African business activities of BAT, consisting of 6 entities across 6 countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Sudan) generating £200mn in revenues annually (550 employees).Succeeded in strengthening key business partner relationships across the Area and in so doing, avoided a business exit from our joint venture in Algeria, negotiated and agreed the acquisition of the Blue Nile Tobacco Company in Sudan and agreed a contract manufacturing extension in Libya at more favourable terms.

As General Manager for the £100mn turnover Asian business unit, I had accountability for all business operations in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau (200 employees).Together with my leadership team, developed an exciting vision and growth strategy. Communicated to the organisation, gained their support and then executed the plan. We initially drove a 27% reduction in product costs by negotiating and signing a 5 year contract manufacturing agreement with a local Taiwanese company(TTL). We expanded our rural distribution by engaging with selected key wholesalers and were the first company to launch innovative capsule products in the market.Following impressive share growth, the company became the fastest growing company in the Group and its profitability was tripled. The employee opinion survey returned the best results in the Region.

As ‘Chief of Staff’ to the Regional Director and head of strategy for the Region, my duties included managing and driving the Region’s strategic agenda, facilitating strategic reviews at end market level and reporting on competitor activity.

A secondment to marketing during which time I managed the regional roll out of a new cigarette format (king size super slims). The product, Kent Nanotek, was launched across the region, its most significant success being quickly gaining a 1% share in the profitable Japanese market.

A cluster of 11 developing markets (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Mongolia, and DPRK), each at a different stage of business development.

Prior to the above positions, I enjoyed a succession of challenging assignments with increasing responsibilities within both the Finance and Strategy and Planning functions. Roles included being Programme manager for new business Development (M&A) across the Asia Pacific Region and being the Finance Director for BAT’s operating company in Cambodia.

Ba Hons In Economics With Accountancy

Executive Development Programmes