British American Tobacco PLC Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Gray will step down from the company's management board at the end of December and leave the group March 31, 2019, according to an Oct. 10 filing to the London Stock Exchange.

The London-based tobacco company said Gray will be succeeded by Kingsley Wheaton, who is regional director for the Americas and sub-Saharan Africa, or AMSSA. The appointment will take effect Jan. 1, 2019.

Gray previously served as managing director of British American Tobacco's Malaysian arm and president of the company's Souza Cruz brand. He was appointed to the company's management board in 2008 as regional director for Africa and the Middle East. He was also regional director of the company's Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa division before being named as chief marketing officer.

Wheaton joined the company's management board as director of corporate and regulatory affairs in 2012 before being appointed as managing director of the company's next-generation products in 2015.

British American Tobacco said it has yet to name Wheaton's successor for the AMSAA division.

Wheaton's appointment came shortly after the company identified Jack Bowles, COO of international business, to succeed Nicandro Durante as CEO.