(British American Tobacco) announced, on Thursday (April 9, 2026), Suelma Rosa as the new vice-president of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs for its operation in South America. The executive officially assumes the role this April, joining the regional leadership committee at a relevant moment in the evolution of the business and the sector.
In the new position, Suelma will be responsible for regulatory strategy, engagement with governments and stakeholderscommunication, corporate reputation and management of sensitive topics. The executive’s arrival comes at a time when the multinational is advancing in the construction of a more diversified business model, focused on expansion into new categories and the growing demand for greater dialogue with society.
Regarding the new challenge, the vice president highlighted the importance of transparency. “There is no real transformation without dialogue, especially on the most complex topics”he stated. “BAT’s evolution involves innovation and new categories, but also the ability to build trust. My commitment is to contribute to strengthening this agenda, expanding listening and the quality of information to society”he added.
TRAJECTORY AND TRAINING
Suelma has more than 20 years of experience and has led agendas in markets in Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Graduated in international relations from the (University of Brasília), the executive has an MBA from (Fundação Getúlio Vargas) and a doctorate in Political Sciences from the Sorbonne University, in France.
The executive began her career as external relations coordinator at Vale. Prior to joining British American Tobacco, she served as PepsiCo’s Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Latin America and Mexico.
The current movement marks Suelma’s return to Brazil. His professional career also includes stints in leadership positions in companies such as Unilever and Dow, as well as working in global organizations such as UNOPS (United Nations Office of Project Services) and The Nature Conservancy.
