London, United Kingdom, September 2025 — Amina Russell has been appointed as Group Head of Human Rights at BAT, where she will be responsible for leading the company’s global human rights strategy, due diligence frameworks, and ethical initiatives. Her appointment underscores BAT’s commitment to embedding sustainability and human rights considerations across its value chain, aligned with its vision of creating A Better Tomorrow™.
Before joining BAT, Amina was with Amazon for nearly two years, where she most recently served as Senior Program Manager, Risk Insights & Due Diligence, Human Rights & Social Impact. In this role, she was instrumental in strengthening global human rights programs, driving social impact initiatives, and embedding responsible practices across central operations.
Prior to Amazon, she spent seven years with De Beers Group, where she held leadership roles including Best Practice Principles and Ethical Initiatives Lead. At De Beers, she led the Group’s Best Practice Principles Programme, ensuring its alignment with global frameworks such as the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, ILO Standards, IFC Performance Standards, and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. She also coordinated the Human Rights Working Group, authored the Group’s Modern Slavery Act statement, and championed responsible sourcing of diamonds, precious metals, and gemstones. Earlier, as a Best Practice Principles Specialist, she worked extensively on due diligence and compliance across the diamond value chain.
Amina also gained valuable experience at the British Institute of Human Rights, where she served as Human Rights Officer and Assistant Human Rights Officer, contributing to advocacy, policy development, and capacity building initiatives. Her early career included roles as Research Assistant at the Law Commission of England and Wales, Queen Mary University of London, and with Dr. Russell Sandberg, as well as internships at the Kids Company/Centre for Social Justice and the British Institute of Human Rights, where she laid the foundation for her expertise in law, policy, and rights-based research.
With over a decade of experience spanning corporate, academic, and non-profit sectors, Amina brings a rich understanding of human rights law, ethical compliance, and global sustainability frameworks. Her new role at BAT positions her to strengthen the company’s global human rights agenda and ensure ethical business practices across diverse markets.
About BAT
BAT is a leading global consumer goods company driven by a clear purpose: to create A Better Tomorrow™ by building a smokeless world. Founded in 1902, BAT operates across six continents with a presence in over 180 markets. With a powerful portfolio of global brands, a future-focused strategy, and around 50,000 talented people worldwide, the company is committed to accelerating Tobacco Harm Reduction, providing reduced-risk alternatives, and making cigarettes a thing of the past.
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