BAT feted as Kenya’s best employer

Cigarette maker British American Tobacco (BAT) Kenya Plc #ticker:BAT emerged the best employer for the second year running during the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) Employer of the Year Awards.

More than 127 companies from various sectors took part in the event whose ratings were carried out by PriceWaterCoopers (PwC) Kenya.

The firms were evaluated in various categories including leadership and governance, corporate performance and innovations. BAT excelled specifically in the workplace environment and industrial relations category.

Telecommunications firm Safaricom #ticker:SCOM emerged the second best company followed by power producer KenGen #ticker:KEGN.

“Employers who provide the right environment, support and tools for career advancements reap the benefits in terms of high morale, less absenteeism, loyalty, productivity, trust and superior customer service,” said Public Service Cabinet Secretary, Margaret Kobia said at the ceremony last week.

Telecommunication firm Safaricom emerged the second best company followed by power producer Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen).

Other winners in different categories included Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, health services provider LVCT Health,  East Africa Breweries, Centum Investment Company Plc, Ecobank Kenya and the Capital Markets Authority.

On Tuesday, the tobacco company’s parent firm BAT Plc named 14-year company insider Jack Bowles to succeed Nicandro Durante as chief executive officer on Tuesday.

Last year, Mr. Durante acquired Reynolds American in a deal worth 55 billion dollars, bringing in brands such as Camel into BAT’s portfolio.

The shift in management comes at a time when tobacco companies are searching for alternative tobacco formats to woo consumers as traditional smoking loses popularity. BAT looked to heated tobacco and alternative devices which pose lower health risks.