Wade Huckabee Appointed Senior Vice President of BAT's Subsidiary

BAT by 2FIRSTS.ai
Jan.04.2024
Wade Huckabee Appointed Senior Vice President of BAT's Subsidiary
Wade Huckabee appointed as senior VP of Reynolds American Inc., subsidiary of British American Tobacco, overseeing strategy and transformation.

Wade Huckabee has been appointed as the Senior Vice President of Strategic and Transformation at RAI USA, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco (BAT), according to an official statement on the BAT website.

 

Hakobi's new position will take effect on January 1, 2024. He will be responsible for the strategic development and implementation in the United States, as well as serve the leadership team of Renault in America.

 

Hakabi joined Renault USA in April 2016 as the Vice President of Strategy and Planning. In this role, he was responsible for establishing more analytical capabilities and insights in the retail market. By December 2018, Hakabi was appointed as the Senior Vice President of Tobacco Business and later became the General Manager of Renault's Traditional Business Division in 2019.

 

In 2022, Hakabi was appointed as the Head of Global Revenue Growth, responsible for accelerating sales and category targets of the BAT Group in prioritized global markets. In 2023, he further took on the role of Head of Client and Business Group, responsible for the development of global trade marketing.

 

In his new role, Hakabi will lead and oversee Renault's strategies, including key elements related to business, organization, and regulatory policies.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

2Firsts Observations | Two Months After Launch, BAT’s VELO Shift Draws Attention for Non-Traditional Design as Some Users Call for Higher Nicotine Strength
2Firsts Observations | Two Months After Launch, BAT’s VELO Shift Draws Attention for Non-Traditional Design as Some Users Call for Higher Nicotine Strength
British American Tobacco (BAT) introduced the VELO Shift nicotine pouch in September 2025, featuring a hexagonal outer can and an oval-triangle pouch shape that departs from traditional designs. Two months after launch, the product is available in the U.K., U.S. and Sweden. Social-media feedback indicates the design has been well received, while some users are calling for higher nicotine strength.
Nov.06 by 2FIRSTS.ai
British American Tobacco’s VELO Launches Limited McLaren F1 Edition: US Price Only 60% of EU/UK
British American Tobacco’s VELO Launches Limited McLaren F1 Edition: US Price Only 60% of EU/UK
BAT’s VELO has released a McLaren F1 co-branded, track-themed limited-edition pack in McLaren’s orange-black livery. Pricing is about $4.60 per can in the U.S. versus ~$7.40 in the EU/UK. The collaboration extends BAT’s partnership with McLaren dating back to 2019.
Oct.11 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Trump Signs H.R.5371: FDA to Deploy $200 Million for ENDS Enforcement
Trump Signs H.R.5371: FDA to Deploy $200 Million for ENDS Enforcement
President Donald Trump signed the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R.5371) on November 12, Section 772 of Part B—the Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (S.2256)—requires the FDA to allocate no less than $200 million in tobacco user fees to enforce regulations against illegal e-cigarettes, vapes, and other ENDS products. At least $2 million of this funding supports a federal multi-agency task force targeting products originating from the China.
Nov.14 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Product | GEEK BAR and Canada’s STLTH Co-Launch 80,000-Puff Vape, Now Available Across Multiple Channels
Product | GEEK BAR and Canada’s STLTH Co-Launch 80,000-Puff Vape, Now Available Across Multiple Channels
Canada’s STLTH has teamed up with GEEK BAR to launch the disposable “STLTH X GEEK BAR 80K,” featuring 30 ml of e-liquid and up to 80,000 puffs. The device is now available across multiple retail channels in Canada, priced around C$44.99–48.99.
Oct.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Product | Up to 100,000 Puffs and Over 2,000 Puffs per ml: MASKKING, MR FOG, HYPERBAR Roll Out Ultra High-Puff New Devices
Product | Up to 100,000 Puffs and Over 2,000 Puffs per ml: MASKKING, MR FOG, HYPERBAR Roll Out Ultra High-Puff New Devices
In 2025, disposable vapes are shifting from a “puff count race” to a focus on user experience. While 30,000–50,000 puffs has become mainstream, brands like MASKKING, MR FOG, and HYPERBAR are still launching higher-capacity products in the 60,000–100,000 puff range. Models with disclosed tank sizes all exceed 2,000 puffs per mL and commonly feature adjustable wattage and enhanced interactive functions.
Nov.14 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Philip Morris International Restructures to Drive Its Smoke-Free Transformation
Philip Morris International Restructures to Drive Its Smoke-Free Transformation
Philip Morris International (PMI) announced a new organizational model effective January 1, 2026, creating two main business units — PMI International and PMI U.S. — to accelerate its smoke-free strategy. The restructuring replaces four regional segments with three: International Smoke-Free, International Combustibles, and U.S., enhancing agility, governance, and long-term growth in reduced-risk products.
Nov.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai