Nigel is second cousin to none other than Michael Prideaux, communications director at Imperial rival British American Tobacco.
A Brunswick stalwart, Nigel moved onto the account 'reasonably recently', but can't see the funny side of the family coincidence. 'I was in banking before and I have lots of cousins in banking,' he says.
Meanwhile, Michael claims he has not briefed his cousin on the issues he will face.
He said: 'I have not given him the lowdown. He is very competent, and I am sure he is aware of what the issues are.'
Imperial must be hoping some of Michael's nous in fending off the media runs in the family.
