British American Tobacco Zimbabwe - Phyllis Chenjera

Phyllis Chenjera is a distinguished lawyer and government affairs executive with deep expertise in regulatory strategy, corporate governance, and high‑level stakeholder engagement. She has led complex regulatory, governance, and policy initiatives across the financial services, telecommunications, manufacturing, and FMCG sectors, earning a reputation for navigating challenging regulatory landscapes with clarity and strategic insight.

Phyllis has held senior leadership roles throughout her career, including serving as Company Secretary for British American Tobacco Zimbabwe (2021–2024) and earlier legal positions at Old Mutual and Powertel Communications. She has played a central role in shaping public policy and advancing regulatory frameworks across multiple jurisdictions, driving projects at regional and global levels. Among her notable achievements, she spearheaded initiatives that enabled Zimbabwe to become the first Southern African country to standardise modern oral nicotine products—advancing British American Tobacco’s new category agenda internationally.

Her academic credentials include a Master of Laws (LLM) from Stellenbosch University and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Midlands State University.

Phyllis’s professional excellence has been recognised through multiple industry honours. She was named Head of Legal of the Year (Manufacturing Sector) in 2023 by both the Institute of Corporate Governance Zimbabwe and the Women in Governance, Risk and Compliance. She was also awarded Young Executive of the Year (2024) by Megafest and received the Inspired Women Africa Award (2025) for outstanding contributions to sustainability, women’s empowerment, and community development.