Ralf Wittenberg will become chief executive of British American Tobacco (BAT) Germany in January, replacing Ad Schenk, who will retire, the company said.

Wittenberg, 48, began with the BAT Germany subsidiary in 1995 and has held positions at the tobacco company's London headquarters and in Africa. In 2009 he became Switzerland general manager with additional responsibilities in other central European countries. Schenk, 56, leaves BAT Germany after more than six years in the top job. He has been with the company since 1994.