Ex-bank chief lands top US position

BRITISH American Tobacco’s decision to appoint the former governor of the Bank of Ireland, Richard Burrows, as chairman of the world’s second largest cigarette manufacturer could get a hostile reception from the markets.

It is one of the most powerful roles in British business and comes just months after Mr Burrows issued a grovelling apology to shareholders of the bank, who have seen the bank reduced to a shell.

Mr Burrows is tipped to replace Jan du Plessis, who has taken over as chairman of the Rio Tinto mining group.