NEWSMAKER-Cooper looks to fire up Imperial's growth

* Alison Cooper named CEO designate at Imperial Tobacco

* Joins small band of female CEOs at FTSE 100 companies

* Looks to boost growth at Britain's top cigarette group

By David Jones

LONDON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Alison Cooper is set to become the youngest female chief executive of a FTSE 100 company as she looks to put sales growth at the top of her agenda for the world's No 4 cigarette group Imperial Tobacco Plc (IMT.L)

Cooper, 43, was widely tipped to take over the top job at the maker of Lambert & Butler and Gauloises cigarettes next year after shadowing current CEO Gareth Davis for eight months.

Davis is set to retire next May, the day before his 60th birthday.

"Alison has worked closely on all the big deals with Gareth so the transition at the top of Imperial would appear to be very smooth," said one tobacco industry analyst.