Organigram Global Appoints Former BAT Global Head of Strategy James Yamanaka as Chief Executive Officer

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Organigram Global has named James Yamanaka, previously Global Head of Strategy at British American Tobacco (BTI), as its new CEO. His appointment is expected to take effect around January 15, 2026, and he will also join the company’s board. Yamanaka brings more than 20 years of strategic and managerial experience from roles across Europe and Asia at BTI.

2Firsts, November 26, 2025 — According to GuruFocus, Organigram Global has appointed James Yamanaka, who previously served as Global Head of Strategy at British American Tobacco (BTI), as its new Chief Executive Officer.

James Yamanaka: One purpose, many changes - Sustainable Japan by The Japan Times — James Yamanaka｜sustainable

His appointment is expected to take effect around January 15, 2026, at which point he will also join the company’s board of directors.

The report notes that Yamanaka spent more than two decades at BTI, holding strategic planning and general management roles across Europe and Asia. His career includes work on value-driven strategy development, operational transformation and commercial performance improvement.

References:

[1] BTI Executive James Yamanaka to Lead Organigram Global as New CEO

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