British American Tobacco Bangladesh - Mr. Sudesh Peter
Executive Director
Background
Mr. Sudesh Peter is a seasoned legal and regulatory professional with over 15 years of leadership experience in the tobacco industry across South Asia. An Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and Member of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, he holds an LL.M. in International Business with Information Technology & Intellectual Property from Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK, and a Bachelor of Information Technology from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
He began his career as Junior Counsel at K. Kanag-Isvaran and later joined F. J. & G. de Saram Attorneys-at-Law, where he handled complex litigation and arbitration matters across commercial, banking, intellectual property, and labour law, including representing Citibank in the Singapore Oil Hedging Arbitration against the Government of Sri Lanka.
Joining Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) PLC in 2011, he progressed through multiple leadership roles to become Director of Legal & External Affairs and Company Secretary. During his tenure, he successfully challenged graphic health warning regulations and received the Chairman’s Award in 2017 for excellence in pricing and excise engagement.
Mr. Peter joined BAT Bangladesh PLC. in June 2023 as Head of Legal & External Affairs and subsequently led the separation of the Legal and CORA functions. He currently serves as Head of Legal and Acting Head of CORA, overseeing legal, governance, compliance, corporate, and regulatory affairs. He has also championed Legal on Wheels, Legal Policy Week, and Legal Clinic, while leading crisis management efforts during periods of geopolitical uncertainty in Bangladesh.
Date of Appointment to BATB Board
Mr. Sudesh Peter was appointed as Executive Director to the Board of Directors of BAT Bangladesh PLC. on 23rd July 2026.
Career Highlights
- Head of Legal and Acting Head of Corporate & Regulatory Affairs (CORA), BAT Bangladesh PLC. (2025–Present)
- Head of Legal, BAT Bangladesh PLC. (2023–Present)
- Head of Legal & External Affairs, BAT Bangladesh PLC. (2023)
- Successfully led the separation of Legal and CORA functions at BAT Bangladesh PLC.
- Led BAT Bangladesh’s crisis response team during geopolitical disruptions in 2024, implementing employee safety and business continuity measures.
- Introduced Legal on Wheels, Legal Policy Week, and Legal Clinic initiatives to strengthen legal awareness and compliance culture across BAT Bangladesh PLC.
- Director of Legal & External Affairs and Company Secretary, Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC. (2019–2023)
- Regulatory Affairs Counsel, Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC. (2015–2019)
- Litigation Counsel, Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC. (2012–2015)
- Corporate and Commercial Counsel, Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC. (2011–2012)
- Recipient of the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Pricing and Excise Engagement (2017).
- Successfully challenged graphic health warning regulations during his tenure at CTC PLC.
- Member, BAT Bangladesh PLC. Leadership Team.
- Member, BAT APMEA Regional Legal Leadership Team.