About

‘What I enjoy most about my role at BAT is that because of the environment in which the company operates, and the way it is structured, it allows the lawyers to be part of the business and be part of developing the strategic agenda of the company. I thoroughly enjoy being able to combine my legal skills with the commercial agenda’, articulates Christina Wagner. As head of legal and external affairs at British American Tobacco in Denmark, Wagner currently leads a team of six proactive employees that are well integrated into the business. She takes a unique approach to ensure that legal and business are managing this integration. Bringing innovation to leadership, Wagner has introduced the concept of a ‘mobile team’ where some days of the week the legal members sit together and other days they locate to varying departments throughout the business. ‘This helps the integration of the team and its members into the business, because more than anything they know who each other are and how they work’. As head of legal she is responsible for ensuring that the legal risk is understood across multiple jurisdictions and within regional and local laws. Wagner’s biggest achievement has been to become a trusted partner, her ability to speak law in a business language allows her to provide BAT with solid, balanced advice. As an innovative and business savvy lawyer capable of thinking outside the box, Wagner warrants acknowledgement. One commentator states that ‘Christina is the definition of a fighter. She is extremely committed, highly skilled and stops only when the goal is reached. She never gives up’.