Our Executive Committee is made up of 21 members. Their leadership spans the entirety of our global business, and every member is committed to ensuring we are the most successful and responsible tobacco company in the world.
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Eddy Pirard
President and Chief Executive Officer
Eddy Pirard, a Belgian national, was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer in 2017. JTI operates in over 130 countries with over 46,000 employees worldwide.
Experience
After graduating with a Business degree from Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC) in Belgium in 1985, he joined P&G and worked on the integration of Richardson Vicks. Eddy went on to study for an MBA at Harvard Business School, graduating in 1991. He then joined McKinsey & Co, where he specialized in fast moving consumer goods and worked across a wide range of disciplines and industries in both Europe and the US.
In 1996, Eddy moved to the tobacco sector, heading Business Development at Gallaher Group Plc, an international FTSE 100 company, based in the UK. After a two year period outside of the Company, co-founding a start-up business in the e-commerce sector, he returned to Gallaher in 2002 to successfully lead the cigar and other tobacco products division.
Following the acquisition of Gallaher by JT Group (listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange) in 2007, Eddy was promoted to President of the UK and Ireland region, and then in 2010, his remit grew to become Regional President for Western Europe, where he was instrumental in growing the business in 13 markets.
In 2014, Eddy became the global Head of Business Development, leading significant M&A and expansion activity, as well as spearheading JTI’s entry into the vaping market, with the acquisitions of the brands E-Lites and Logic.
Since April 2017, when Eddy was promoted to the role of President and CEO of JTI, he has led the expansion of the business, growing from 27,000 to over 40,000 employees, concluding 5 major acquisitions - including 3 in Asia, as well as leading the transformation of JTI, with in excess of $1bn investment into products that have reduced-risk potential.
Separately to JTI’s commercial activities, Eddy is the President of the JTI Foundation, an organization whose mission is to help less privileged people and victims of natural or man-made disasters improve their quality of life. He is also a member of the Governance Council of HEC Liege, his alma mater.
Eddy Pirard
President and Chief Executive Officer
Eddy Pirard, a Belgian national, was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer in 2017. JTI operates in over 130 countries with over 46,000 employees worldwide.
Experience
After graduating with a Business degree from Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC) in Belgium in 1985, he joined P&G and worked on the integration of Richardson Vicks. Eddy went on to study for an MBA at Harvard Business School, graduating in 1991. He then joined McKinsey & Co, where he specialized in fast moving consumer goods and worked across a wide range of disciplines and industries in both Europe and the US.
In 1996, Eddy moved to the tobacco sector, heading Business Development at Gallaher Group Plc, an international FTSE 100 company, based in the UK. After a two year period outside of the Company, co-founding a start-up business in the e-commerce sector, he returned to Gallaher in 2002 to successfully lead the cigar and other tobacco products division.
Following the acquisition of Gallaher by JT Group (listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange) in 2007, Eddy was promoted to President of the UK and Ireland region, and then in 2010, his remit grew to become Regional President for Western Europe, where he was instrumental in growing the business in 13 markets.
In 2014, Eddy became the global Head of Business Development, leading significant M&A and expansion activity, as well as spearheading JTI’s entry into the vaping market, with the acquisitions of the brands E-Lites and Logic.
Since April 2017, when Eddy was promoted to the role of President and CEO of JTI, he has led the expansion of the business, growing from 27,000 to over 40,000 employees, concluding 5 major acquisitions - including 3 in Asia, as well as leading the transformation of JTI, with in excess of $1bn investment into products that have reduced-risk potential.
Separately to JTI’s commercial activities, Eddy is the President of the JTI Foundation, an organization whose mission is to help less privileged people and victims of natural or man-made disasters improve their quality of life. He is also a member of the Governance Council of HEC Liege, his alma mater.
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Taro Higashi
Senior Vice President, Chief Quality Officer
Taro Higashi was appointed to the role of Senior Vice President, Chief Quality Officer, in January 2025. He is responsible for leading overall quality assurance.
Experience.
A Japanese national, Taro brings extensive experience across manufacturing technology, engineering, and strategic leadership roles within JT Group. Prior to his current position, he served as Vice President of RRP Sourcing, as well as Procurement & RRP Manufacturing at Japan Tobacco Inc., where he led cigarette material procurement strategy and RRP manufacturing capacity planning for the Japan market.
From 2016 to 2018, he held key corporate positions including Vice President of Corporate Strategy, where he was responsible for JT Group's long-term strategy setting and corporate governance. A significant milestone in his career was leading the new Taiwan Factory Project from 2013 to 2016, where he managed the complete establishment of a greenfield manufacturing facility.
His earlier career included leadership roles as Director of Manufacturing Technology Division and Director of Manufacturing Division, where he was instrumental in developing new generation primary processes and managing capital expenditure for JT's manufacturing group. From 2000 to 2004, he gained valuable international experience as Project Director of Global Engineering at JTI in Geneva.
Taro began his career with Japan Tobacco in 1993 as an Engineer at JT Odawara Factory. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from Yokohama National University, Japan.
Gian Luigi Cervesato
Regional President Western Europe & Ukraine
Gian Luigi Cervesato was appointed to JTI’s Executive Committee as Regional President, Western Europe & Ukraine, in January 2025. He is responsible for the region’s operations and performance.
Experience
Gian Luigi has extensive international experience in Business Development, Marketing & Sales, and Leadership.
He joined JTI in 2009 in Kazakhstan to lead Marketing & Sales before being appointed General Manager of that market.
Since then, Gian Luigi has held General Manager roles in Iberia, Italy and Germany. Under his leadership, these markets have grown significantly and consistently.
Prior to joining JTI, Gian Luigi’s international career in FMCG sector included leadership positions in Marketing & Sales across Europe, Turkey and Africa.
He holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Institut Catholique des Hautes Etudes Commerciales in Brussels and a Master in Management from the Vlaamse Ekonomishe Hogeschool in Brussels.
I strongly believe in the strength of our people, the power of collaboration, and our shared commitment to JTI’s vision to drive the success of the Western Europe & Ukraine region.
Tom Osborne
Regional President North Asia
Tom Osborne was appointed to his current position in January 2025. He is responsible for JTI operations and performance across the North Asia Region.
A British national, Tom brings extensive experience in the industry, having worked across diverse markets and regions globally. Before assuming his current position, he successfully led JTI UK from 2022, delivering strengthened market leadership. Prior to that, he was General Manager of the Russian market and the Iberia cluster, where he consistently drove strong business performance and sustainable growth in highly competitive markets.
Tom began his career in 2003 as a graduate trainee at Gallaher in the UK. He later held senior marketing and commercial roles, including Head of Marketing in the UK, Vice President of Marketing & Sales in Taiwan, and General Manager of the Canary Islands. In 2016, he moved to Geneva HQ as Vice President of Marketing & Sales for Western Europe, leading the commercial strategy across 26 markets.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
I am very proud to lead our teams across North Asia, a vibrant region of great potential. Through the empowerment of our organizations, we are committed to delivering exceptional experiences to our consumers and driving strong and sustainable commercial growth.
Nobuya Kato
Executive Vice President and Deputy CEO
Nobuya Kato was appointed Executive Vice President and Deputy CEO in October 2023. He is responsible for setting and implementing JTI’s strategic agenda, oversight of corporate governance matters and steering the company’s strategy towards future success.
Experience
Nobuya joined our parent company Japan Tobacco in 1996 and throughout his career has worked on various business development initiatives, including many bolt-on acquisitions both in JT and JTI.
Between 2008 and 2014 Nobuya worked in JTI headquarters in Geneva as Business Development Director. Upon his return to JT headquarters in Tokyo, he was given different roles with increased responsibilities and became Vice President, JT Corporate Strategy in 2019.
Prior to his current role, from January 2022 Nobuya held the position of Senior Vice President and CFO of JT. Additionally, from January 2023 he was in charge of Corporate Communications.
Nobuya holds a bachelor's degree in law from Osaka University and an MBA from the University of Maryland in the United States.
I am excited to be a part of leading the journey to realize our purpose
- Creating fulfilling moments. Creating a better future. – thereby driving JTI to be continuously sustainable for a long-term horizon and contributing to society as a whole.
Taro Higashi
Senior Vice President, Chief Quality Officer
Taro Higashi was appointed to the role of Senior Vice President, Chief Quality Officer, in January 2025. He is responsible for leading overall quality assurance.
Experience.
A Japanese national, Taro brings extensive experience across manufacturing technology, engineering, and strategic leadership roles within JT Group. Prior to his current position, he served as Vice President of RRP Sourcing, as well as Procurement & RRP Manufacturing at Japan Tobacco Inc., where he led cigarette material procurement strategy and RRP manufacturing capacity planning for the Japan market.
From 2016 to 2018, he held key corporate positions including Vice President of Corporate Strategy, where he was responsible for JT Group's long-term strategy setting and corporate governance. A significant milestone in his career was leading the new Taiwan Factory Project from 2013 to 2016, where he managed the complete establishment of a greenfield manufacturing facility.
His earlier career included leadership roles as Director of Manufacturing Technology Division and Director of Manufacturing Division, where he was instrumental in developing new generation primary processes and managing capital expenditure for JT's manufacturing group. From 2000 to 2004, he gained valuable international experience as Project Director of Global Engineering at JTI in Geneva.
Taro began his career with Japan Tobacco in 1993 as an Engineer at JT Odawara Factory. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from Yokohama National University, Japan.
I strongly believe in the strength of our people, the power of collaboration, and our shared commitment to JTI’s vision to drive the success of the Western Europe & Ukraine region.
Gian Luigi Cervesato
Regional President Western Europe & Ukraine
Gian Luigi Cervesato was appointed to JTI’s Executive Committee as Regional President, Western Europe & Ukraine, in January 2025. He is responsible for the region’s operations and performance.
Experience
Gian Luigi has extensive international experience in Business Development, Marketing & Sales, and Leadership.
He joined JTI in 2009 in Kazakhstan to lead Marketing & Sales before being appointed General Manager of that market.
Since then, Gian Luigi has held General Manager roles in Iberia, Italy and Germany. Under his leadership, these markets have grown significantly and consistently.
Prior to joining JTI, Gian Luigi’s international career in FMCG sector included leadership positions in Marketing & Sales across Europe, Turkey and Africa.
He holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Institut Catholique des Hautes Etudes Commerciales in Brussels and a Master in Management from the Vlaamse Ekonomishe Hogeschool in Brussels.
I am very proud to lead our teams across North Asia, a vibrant region of great potential. Through the empowerment of our organizations, we are committed to delivering exceptional experiences to our consumers and driving strong and sustainable commercial growth.
Tom Osborne
Regional President North Asia
Tom Osborne was appointed to his current position in January 2025. He is responsible for JTI operations and performance across the North Asia Region.
A British national, Tom brings extensive experience in the industry, having worked across diverse markets and regions globally. Before assuming his current position, he successfully led JTI UK from 2022, delivering strengthened market leadership. Prior to that, he was General Manager of the Russian market and the Iberia cluster, where he consistently drove strong business performance and sustainable growth in highly competitive markets.
Tom began his career in 2003 as a graduate trainee at Gallaher in the UK. He later held senior marketing and commercial roles, including Head of Marketing in the UK, Vice President of Marketing & Sales in Taiwan, and General Manager of the Canary Islands. In 2016, he moved to Geneva HQ as Vice President of Marketing & Sales for Western Europe, leading the commercial strategy across 26 markets.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
I am excited to be a part of leading the journey to realize our purpose
- Creating fulfilling moments. Creating a better future. – thereby driving JTI to be continuously sustainable for a long-term horizon and contributing to society as a whole.
Nobuya Kato
Executive Vice President and Deputy CEO
Nobuya Kato was appointed Executive Vice President and Deputy CEO in October 2023. He is responsible for setting and implementing JTI’s strategic agenda, oversight of corporate governance matters and steering the company’s strategy towards future success.
Experience
Nobuya joined our parent company Japan Tobacco in 1996 and throughout his career has worked on various business development initiatives, including many bolt-on acquisitions both in JT and JTI.
Between 2008 and 2014 Nobuya worked in JTI headquarters in Geneva as Business Development Director. Upon his return to JT headquarters in Tokyo, he was given different roles with increased responsibilities and became Vice President, JT Corporate Strategy in 2019.
Prior to his current role, from January 2022 Nobuya held the position of Senior Vice President and CFO of JT. Additionally, from January 2023 he was in charge of Corporate Communications.
Nobuya holds a bachelor's degree in law from Osaka University and an MBA from the University of Maryland in the United States.
Vassilis Vovos
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Vassilis Vovos was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in April 2023.
Experience
A Greek national, Vassilis has a wealth of experience from a diverse and wide-ranging professional background.
Prior to being appointed to his current position, Vassilis was the Chief Financial Officer of JTI where his role has included oversight of IT, the creation of our Global Business Services organization, and, since 2022, overall responsibility for Corporate Sustainability.
Vassilis joined the Company’s Executive Committee in 2010 as Regional President for Central Europe, before becoming Regional President for Western Europe in 2014. He had previously served as General Manager of France from 2002 to 2010 and, before that, was Vice President, Marketing and Sales for Europe operating out of the Geneva headquarters.
Prior to joining JTI, Vassilis was a key member of the R.J. Reynolds International team. He began his Reynolds career in 1991 in Greece working in Brand Marketing and in 1995 took on the role of Marketing Director. In 1997 he was promoted to Vice President for Marketing and Strategic Planning for the Southern Europe and Northern Africa region, based in Paris.
Vassilis has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Thessalonica Polytechnic School in Greece, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Illinois in Chicago, United States.
We have built an agile Finance organization that guides performance, supports investment decisions, and addresses risk in our rapidly changing business environment. And we have raised the ambition on our Sustainability targets: everybody at JTI is committed to contribute to their achievement.
Stefan Fitz
Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer
Stefan Fitz was appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, in April 2023.
Experience
Stefan is an Austrian national with deep expertise in the tobacco industry. Before his appointment, he served as the Regional President for Western Europe and Regional President for Asia Pacific.
Stefan has been a JTI Executive Committee member since 2007, when he became Regional President for Central Europe. Prior to Gallaher’s integration into JTI, Stefan was Managing Director, Central Europe – a position he had assumed in 2001 – having first played a major role in the integration of Austria Tabak into Gallaher.
Before this, Stefan was the General Manager of Austria Tabak’s Tobacco Division, a position he held from 1999. He joined the company in 1995 as Managing Director of the International Business, having begun his career in 1992 with Henkel Austria.
Stefan is a graduate of Vienna Business University.
JTI’s success is fueled by our passionate teams, strong partnerships, and commitment to our consumers. Together, we will continue to expand our reach, create new opportunities, and create a better future.
Rob Stanworth
Executive Vice President, Chief Consumer and Product Officer
Rob Stanworth was appointed to his current position in April 2023.
Experience
A British national, Rob has plentiful experience of the tobacco industry in a wide range of countries and markets. Prior to taking up on his new role in April 2023, he was leading the Asia Pacific Region, serving there since 2013 in a variety of General Manager roles, in Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea and Indonesia.
Before moving to the Region, Rob was General Manager of Germany from 2009 to 2012. Prior to that role, he was named General Manager Austria in May 2007, with Hungary added to his responsibilities in 2008. From 2004 to 2007, he served as the Managing Director of Gallaher Romania. He first joined the company in 1999 as a Group Purchasing Manager.
Rob began his career in 1995 working for BMW Rover Group in Birmingham, United Kingdom. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Studies from the University of Wales, Swansea, United Kingdom.
Creating fulfilling moments, creating a better future, lies at the heart of our consumer and product journey. From insights and innovation, through to brand proposition and production, the consumer experience is what drives us.
Takehiko Tsutsui
Executive Vice President, Reduced-Risk Products
Takehiko Tsutsui was appointed Executive Vice President Reduced-Risk Products in April 2023. He is responsible for driving the innovation and development of Reduced-Risk propositions globally.
Experience
Takehiko, a Japanese national, has more than 17 years of extensive experience developing corporate strategies and driving M&A for both JTI and our parent company JT.
Prior to his current role, he was appointed Senior Vice President, Reduced-Risk Products in September 2021.
In January 2020, he returned to Geneva as Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development, and member of the JTI ExCom.
Before he served as Senior Vice President of Business Development and a member of JT's Executive Committee since 2014, overseeing Group-wide business development activities.
Takehiko was based in Geneva between 2005 and 2012, where he became Vice President of Corporate Strategy. This followed on from an earlier role as a director at JTI where he played a key role in the $20 billion deal to acquire and integrate Gallaher, a FTSE100 company in the UK. Following his studies in mechanical engineering, Takehiko spent his first six years in the manufacturing division of JT.
There’s no better moment to innovate and capture new opportunities than during times of change. I am excited to create ever more fulfilling moments for our consumers.
We have built an agile Finance organization that guides performance, supports investment decisions, and addresses risk in our rapidly changing business environment. And we have raised the ambition on our Sustainability targets: everybody at JTI is committed to contribute to their achievement.
Vassilis Vovos
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Vassilis Vovos was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in April 2023.
Experience
A Greek national, Vassilis has a wealth of experience from a diverse and wide-ranging professional background.
Prior to being appointed to his current position, Vassilis was the Chief Financial Officer of JTI where his role has included oversight of IT, the creation of our Global Business Services organization, and, since 2022, overall responsibility for Corporate Sustainability.
Vassilis joined the Company’s Executive Committee in 2010 as Regional President for Central Europe, before becoming Regional President for Western Europe in 2014. He had previously served as General Manager of France from 2002 to 2010 and, before that, was Vice President, Marketing and Sales for Europe operating out of the Geneva headquarters.
Prior to joining JTI, Vassilis was a key member of the R.J. Reynolds International team. He began his Reynolds career in 1991 in Greece working in Brand Marketing and in 1995 took on the role of Marketing Director. In 1997 he was promoted to Vice President for Marketing and Strategic Planning for the Southern Europe and Northern Africa region, based in Paris.
Vassilis has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Thessalonica Polytechnic School in Greece, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Illinois in Chicago, United States.
JTI’s success is fueled by our passionate teams, strong partnerships, and commitment to our consumers. Together, we will continue to expand our reach, create new opportunities, and create a better future.
Stefan Fitz
Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer
Stefan Fitz was appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, in April 2023.
Experience
Stefan is an Austrian national with deep expertise in the tobacco industry. Before his appointment, he served as the Regional President for Western Europe and Regional President for Asia Pacific.
Stefan has been a JTI Executive Committee member since 2007, when he became Regional President for Central Europe. Prior to Gallaher’s integration into JTI, Stefan was Managing Director, Central Europe – a position he had assumed in 2001 – having first played a major role in the integration of Austria Tabak into Gallaher.
Before this, Stefan was the General Manager of Austria Tabak’s Tobacco Division, a position he held from 1999. He joined the company in 1995 as Managing Director of the International Business, having begun his career in 1992 with Henkel Austria.
Stefan is a graduate of Vienna Business University.
Creating fulfilling moments, creating a better future, lies at the heart of our consumer and product journey. From insights and innovation, through to brand proposition and production, the consumer experience is what drives us.
Rob Stanworth
Executive Vice President, Chief Consumer and Product Officer
Rob Stanworth was appointed to his current position in April 2023.
Experience
A British national, Rob has plentiful experience of the tobacco industry in a wide range of countries and markets. Prior to taking up on his new role in April 2023, he was leading the Asia Pacific Region, serving there since 2013 in a variety of General Manager roles, in Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea and Indonesia.
Before moving to the Region, Rob was General Manager of Germany from 2009 to 2012. Prior to that role, he was named General Manager Austria in May 2007, with Hungary added to his responsibilities in 2008. From 2004 to 2007, he served as the Managing Director of Gallaher Romania. He first joined the company in 1999 as a Group Purchasing Manager.
Rob began his career in 1995 working for BMW Rover Group in Birmingham, United Kingdom. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Studies from the University of Wales, Swansea, United Kingdom.
There’s no better moment to innovate and capture new opportunities than during times of change. I am excited to create ever more fulfilling moments for our consumers.
Takehiko Tsutsui
Executive Vice President, Reduced-Risk Products
Takehiko Tsutsui was appointed Executive Vice President Reduced-Risk Products in April 2023. He is responsible for driving the innovation and development of Reduced-Risk propositions globally.
Experience
Takehiko, a Japanese national, has more than 17 years of extensive experience developing corporate strategies and driving M&A for both JTI and our parent company JT.
Prior to his current role, he was appointed Senior Vice President, Reduced-Risk Products in September 2021.
In January 2020, he returned to Geneva as Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development, and member of the JTI ExCom.
Before he served as Senior Vice President of Business Development and a member of JT's Executive Committee since 2014, overseeing Group-wide business development activities.
Takehiko was based in Geneva between 2005 and 2012, where he became Vice President of Corporate Strategy. This followed on from an earlier role as a director at JTI where he played a key role in the $20 billion deal to acquire and integrate Gallaher, a FTSE100 company in the UK. Following his studies in mechanical engineering, Takehiko spent his first six years in the manufacturing division of JT.
Guergana Andreeva
Senior Vice President, People & Culture and Corporate Security
Guergana Andreeva was appointed Senior Vice President,
People & Culture and Corporate Security as of April 1, 2022.
Experience
Guergana is an experienced human resources professional with a deep knowledge of the company and its people and has a proven track record of success; important qualities for leading People & Culture and Corporate Security into the future supporting Vision 2030.
She was appointed as the People & Culture business partner for the Western Europe Region, the Reduced-Risk Products (RRP) organization and Global Marketing and Sales in 2020.
Before this, Guergana was asked in 2016 to lead Global Talent Management, including succession planning, talent attraction and development, and Headquarters Human Resources. She also played a vital role in our transformation endeavors both within People & Culture as well as Headquarters during this time.
As of 2006, she was appointed Vice President of Human Resources for what is now referred to as our Eastern Europe Region.
Guergana moved to Geneva in 2001 where she held various roles of increasing responsibility.
In 1996, she moved to Romania to lead the Human Resources function for the market and factory and was appointed Director in 1998.
Guergana joined our company in 1993 as the Human Resources and Payroll Administrator in her home country of Bulgaria.
She is a graduate of the University of National and World Economics in Sofia, Bulgaria.
She holds a Master of Economics; specialized in Human Resources.
JTI is passionate about its consumers, I am passionate about our people. This is why I am committed to nurturing an employee-centered organization.
Bilgehan Anlas
Regional President, Eastern Europe and Global Travel Retail
Bilgehan Anlas has been appointed to his current position in April 2023. He is responsible for the Eastern Europe Region, including the Global Travel Retail business.
Experience
Bilgehan, a Turkish national, was appointed Regional President, Middle East, Near East, Africa, Turkey, and Global Travel Retail in October 2018. He had been leading the overall MENEAT operations, as well as Worldwide Duty-Free business for about four years.
He joined JTI’s Executive Committee as Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain in October 2015 and in July 2016, his role was expanded to include the responsibility of our global leaf operations. He was named General Manager for the Turkish Market at the end of 2004, playing a key role in significantly growing the market share of the Company. In 2002, he took up the position of Head of the Global Supply Chain Manufacturing Region for the MENEAT region and Worldwide Duty-Free, also based in Turkey.
In 1999, Bilgehan moved from Kazakhstan – where he had been promoted to Operations Director in 1998 – to Ukraine as the Head of Operations, where he strongly supported the company’s business growth. Bilgehan had already gained significant international experience from various roles in the Global Supply Chain at R.J. Reynolds, the company which he joined in 1992 as an engineer.
Bilgehan holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Yildiz Technical University of Istanbul and also participated in the Business Administration Specialization Program of the Istanbul University Economics Institute.
I am personally committed expanding JTI’s reach across such a wide part of the globe. We have great people in our region delivering great results and that’s what makes us the fastest growing tobacco company in Eastern Europe and GTR. We are all passionate about contributing to JTI's success and achieve our company’s growth ambitions as one high-performing team.
Yves Barbier
Regional President, South Asia
Yves was appointed to his current position of Regional President South Asia in April 2023. He is responsible for all JTI operations across the Region.
Yves brings a wealth of marketing and commercial experience to his role.
He joined JTI back in December 1998 as Marketing Manager in our Middle East business, having previously worked in Asia for both LVMH and the Swatch Group. In 2001, he was appointed Global Marketing Director for the Winston brand before moving on, in 2004, to lead Marketing & Sales for the Benelux cluster of markets.
Five years later, he was back in HQ as Vice President for Camel and, in 2012, was subsequently appointed to be the global JT-JTI lead for the Mevius brand.
He served as Deputy Chief Brand Officer, responsible for Camel, Mevius, Sobranie, B&H, Silk Cut, as well as RYO/MYO, from 2014 before becoming General Manager JTI France in February 2016.
In 2018, he was appointed to JTI’s ExCom as Senior Vice President Marketing & Sales and took up his current position in Asia in April 2023.
Yves holds a Master’s degree in Business from the accredited NEOMA Business School and an MBA in Marketing and Brand Management from the University of Kent, United Kingdom.
South Asia is a vibrant, diverse region full of exciting opportunities for JTI – an area of the world with plenty of potential for our teams to prosper, our brands to expand and our business to thrive.
Akhil Bhardwaj
Regional President Middle East, Near East, Africa, Turkey
Akhil was appointed Regional President Middle East, Near East, Africa, Turkey in April 2023.
Experience
A British national, Akhil has more than a decade of general management, strategy and business development experience within the industry.
He joined JTI’s Executive Committee as Senior Vice President Corporate Strategy and Business Development in September 2021 where he was responsible for developing JTI’s strategic plans and driving future growth opportunities both organically and externally.
Before this, Akhil led the Business Development function from 2019 to 2021.
In 2016, he was promoted to General Manager Indonesia. During his time there, he led the acquisition and integration of a sizeable business, resulting in leading a workforce of more than 14,000 employees.
In 2014, Akhil became the General Manager of the Thailand market.
Akhil joined JTI in 2009 in the Corporate Strategy and Business Development function in Geneva, before being transferred to the Hong Kong office to help grow JTI’s presence in the Asia Pacific Region.
Akhil began his career in the investment banking industry where he spent almost a decade advising multinational corporations and private equity in the FMCG sector.
He holds a Master of Science in Biochemical Research from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine London, and qualified as a chartered accountant at EY in their Consumer M&A team.
I am thrilled to be leading the MENEAT Region where JTI is the fastest growing tobacco company. Our success here can be attributed to our talented team of people who are committed to helping us achieve our ambitions in the region and beyond.
JTI is passionate about its consumers, I am passionate about our people. This is why I am committed to nurturing an employee-centered organization.
Guergana Andreeva
Senior Vice President, People & Culture and Corporate Security
Guergana Andreeva was appointed Senior Vice President,
People & Culture and Corporate Security as of April 1, 2022.
Experience
Guergana is an experienced human resources professional with a deep knowledge of the company and its people and has a proven track record of success; important qualities for leading People & Culture and Corporate Security into the future supporting Vision 2030.
She was appointed as the People & Culture business partner for the Western Europe Region, the Reduced-Risk Products (RRP) organization and Global Marketing and Sales in 2020.
Before this, Guergana was asked in 2016 to lead Global Talent Management, including succession planning, talent attraction and development, and Headquarters Human Resources. She also played a vital role in our transformation endeavors both within People & Culture as well as Headquarters during this time.
As of 2006, she was appointed Vice President of Human Resources for what is now referred to as our Eastern Europe Region.
Guergana moved to Geneva in 2001 where she held various roles of increasing responsibility.
In 1996, she moved to Romania to lead the Human Resources function for the market and factory and was appointed Director in 1998.
Guergana joined our company in 1993 as the Human Resources and Payroll Administrator in her home country of Bulgaria.
She is a graduate of the University of National and World Economics in Sofia, Bulgaria.
She holds a Master of Economics; specialized in Human Resources.
I am personally committed expanding JTI’s reach across such a wide part of the globe. We have great people in our region delivering great results and that’s what makes us the fastest growing tobacco company in Eastern Europe and GTR. We are all passionate about contributing to JTI's success and achieve our company’s growth ambitions as one high-performing team.
Bilgehan Anlas
Regional President, Eastern Europe and Global Travel Retail
Bilgehan Anlas has been appointed to his current position in April 2023. He is responsible for the Eastern Europe Region, including the Global Travel Retail business.
Experience
Bilgehan, a Turkish national, was appointed Regional President, Middle East, Near East, Africa, Turkey, and Global Travel Retail in October 2018. He had been leading the overall MENEAT operations, as well as Worldwide Duty-Free business for about four years.
He joined JTI’s Executive Committee as Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain in October 2015 and in July 2016, his role was expanded to include the responsibility of our global leaf operations. He was named General Manager for the Turkish Market at the end of 2004, playing a key role in significantly growing the market share of the Company. In 2002, he took up the position of Head of the Global Supply Chain Manufacturing Region for the MENEAT region and Worldwide Duty-Free, also based in Turkey.
In 1999, Bilgehan moved from Kazakhstan – where he had been promoted to Operations Director in 1998 – to Ukraine as the Head of Operations, where he strongly supported the company’s business growth. Bilgehan had already gained significant international experience from various roles in the Global Supply Chain at R.J. Reynolds, the company which he joined in 1992 as an engineer.
Bilgehan holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Yildiz Technical University of Istanbul and also participated in the Business Administration Specialization Program of the Istanbul University Economics Institute.
South Asia is a vibrant, diverse region full of exciting opportunities for JTI – an area of the world with plenty of potential for our teams to prosper, our brands to expand and our business to thrive.
Yves Barbier
Regional President, South Asia
Yves was appointed to his current position of Regional President South Asia in April 2023. He is responsible for all JTI operations across the Region.
Yves brings a wealth of marketing and commercial experience to his role.
He joined JTI back in December 1998 as Marketing Manager in our Middle East business, having previously worked in Asia for both LVMH and the Swatch Group. In 2001, he was appointed Global Marketing Director for the Winston brand before moving on, in 2004, to lead Marketing & Sales for the Benelux cluster of markets.
Five years later, he was back in HQ as Vice President for Camel and, in 2012, was subsequently appointed to be the global JT-JTI lead for the Mevius brand.
He served as Deputy Chief Brand Officer, responsible for Camel, Mevius, Sobranie, B&H, Silk Cut, as well as RYO/MYO, from 2014 before becoming General Manager JTI France in February 2016.
In 2018, he was appointed to JTI’s ExCom as Senior Vice President Marketing & Sales and took up his current position in Asia in April 2023.
Yves holds a Master’s degree in Business from the accredited NEOMA Business School and an MBA in Marketing and Brand Management from the University of Kent, United Kingdom.
I am thrilled to be leading the MENEAT Region where JTI is the fastest growing tobacco company. Our success here can be attributed to our talented team of people who are committed to helping us achieve our ambitions in the region and beyond.
Akhil Bhardwaj
Regional President Middle East, Near East, Africa, Turkey
Akhil was appointed Regional President Middle East, Near East, Africa, Turkey in April 2023.
Experience
A British national, Akhil has more than a decade of general management, strategy and business development experience within the industry.
He joined JTI’s Executive Committee as Senior Vice President Corporate Strategy and Business Development in September 2021 where he was responsible for developing JTI’s strategic plans and driving future growth opportunities both organically and externally.
Before this, Akhil led the Business Development function from 2019 to 2021.
In 2016, he was promoted to General Manager Indonesia. During his time there, he led the acquisition and integration of a sizeable business, resulting in leading a workforce of more than 14,000 employees.
In 2014, Akhil became the General Manager of the Thailand market.
Akhil joined JTI in 2009 in the Corporate Strategy and Business Development function in Geneva, before being transferred to the Hong Kong office to help grow JTI’s presence in the Asia Pacific Region.
Akhil began his career in the investment banking industry where he spent almost a decade advising multinational corporations and private equity in the FMCG sector.
He holds a Master of Science in Biochemical Research from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine London, and qualified as a chartered accountant at EY in their Consumer M&A team.
James Boxford
Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development
James was appointed to JTI’s Executive Committee as Senior Vice President Corporate Strategy and Business Development in April 2023. He is responsible for the development of JTI’s strategic plans and driving future growth opportunities both organically and externally.
Experience
James was appointed Head of JTI Corporate Strategy in 2020.
Prior to that, he undertook several roles of increasing responsibility across the Global Finance function culminating in his appointment as Head of Global Financial Performance in April 2017, with responsibility for FP&A, Corporate Control, Tax and Treasury.
Before moving to Geneva in 2011, James successfully led the market Finance functions in both Kazakhstan and in the UK. During his time in Kazakhstan James also led the local Global Supply Chain and factory organizations.
During his career at JTI, he had also led several significant key initiatives including the global SAP S4 Hana Finance transformation.
James joined JTI in his home country of the UK in 2002 to lead the Internal Audit function of Gallaher Group plc.
James is a UK-trained chartered accountant and started his professional career with PwC.
As consumers and society continue to expect more from us as an industry, JTI is 100% focused on creating fulfilling moments and creating a better future.
I am incredibly excited to be leading the Strategy and BD teams that will be integral to ensuring JTI delivers on these promises.
John Fraser
Senior Vice President, Legal & Regulatory Affairs, and Chief Compliance Officer
John was appointed to JTI’s Executive Committee as Senior Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs in September 2020. In addition, John became the Chief Compliance Officer in October 2021. He is responsible for overseeing JTI’s global legal and compliance functions, intellectual property, and scientific and regulatory affairs.
Experience
John brings a wealth of U.S. and international legal expertise to JTI, having spent half of his career in private practice in the U.S. and the U.K., and half in senior in-house roles in multinational FMCGs. John joined JTI’s headquarters in 2017 as General Counsel for the Central Europe Region and subsequently the Western Europe Region.
Before joining JTI, John’s experience includes working as a litigation partner in a prominent U.S. law firm and as Deputy General Counsel for listed Fortune 100 and FTSE 10 multinationals. In these roles, he led the global litigation, regulatory, compliance, IP, industry affairs, and corporate legal teams.
John holds an LLB from Cardiff University in the UK and a JD from the University of Missouri - Kansas City in the U.S. He is a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England & Wales and an active member of the Missouri Bar.
A key to sustainable growth is navigating JTI through a rapidly evolving legal, regulatory, and business environment, supporting reasonable and balanced health measures, and protecting our consumers' freedom to make informed choices.
Tom Greene
Senior Vice President, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Global Business Services
Tom Greene was appointed to the role of Senior Vice President of Digital and Information Technology in January 2021. In December his role was extended to cover our Global Business Services. He is responsible for defining and driving JTI’s information technology and digitalization future direction and for ensuring the continued optimization and further evolution of our GBS across the organization.
Experience
An American and Irish national, Tom has extensive experience in the field of Information Technology, having spent most of his career in international companies in the U.S. Most recently he served as a limited partner of The CXO Fund, a venture capital fund, where for the past two years he has helped to curate and advise AI-based portfolio companies. He has also been advising private equity firms and large global companies to help solve their complex technology challenges.
From 2002 to 2018, Tom was the Chief Information and Business Services Officer for the Colgate-Palmolive Company. At Colgate-Palmolive, he led the modernization of their technology platform, data processes, digital capabilities and successfully built business service centers in Asia, Latin America and Europe. He spent six years with Honeywell International, formerly AlliedSignal Incorporated, where he was responsible for digital transformation.
Tom began his career in 1988 working for J.P. Morgan in the U.S. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Rutgers Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Delaware.
Continuing to build competitive and cutting-edge IT and digital capabilities remains a critical focus for JTI. Technology underpins our quest for agility, increased productivity and improved customer experience by enabling a successful Global Business Services, which in turn frees markets and functions to focus on creating consumer and commercial value.
Phil Livingston
Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain
Phil Livingston was appointed to the role of Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain in June 2020. His role encompasses the development and implementation of all strategies and action plans to improve the productivity, quality and efficiency of JTI’s Global Supply Chain operations.
Experience
Phil joined JTI to lead the Manufacturing Performance Improvement function within the Global Supply Chain in January 2020. A British national, he brings a wealth of manufacturing operations experience gained from working with global manufacturers in the consumer goods and pharmaceutical space.
Phil has had a distinguished manufacturing career, and is highly skilled in operation excellence methodologies; he specializes in building capability in manufacturing facilities, irrespective of their maturity and location. From 2015 to 2019, he led the Engineering and Health, Safety and Environment function for COTY Inc. Prior to this, Phil spent seven years with Novartis where he was responsible for all technical functions within their Over-the-Counter Global Supply Chain organization. His career began in 1988 with Proctor & Gamble. In his 20 years with the company he acquired international experience across multiple categories, developing and implementing manufacturing strategies, technologies and best practices.
Phil holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
JTI’s global supply chain is at the very core of our business. Across our leaf origins, factories and offices, our teams play an instrumental role in exceeding consumer expectations every day. Together, we’re taking our operations to the next level of performance.
As consumers and society continue to expect more from us as an industry, JTI is 100% focused on creating fulfilling moments and creating a better future.
I am incredibly excited to be leading the Strategy and BD teams that will be integral to ensuring JTI delivers on these promises.
James Boxford
Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development
James was appointed to JTI’s Executive Committee as Senior Vice President Corporate Strategy and Business Development in April 2023. He is responsible for the development of JTI’s strategic plans and driving future growth opportunities both organically and externally.
Experience
James was appointed Head of JTI Corporate Strategy in 2020.
Prior to that, he undertook several roles of increasing responsibility across the Global Finance function culminating in his appointment as Head of Global Financial Performance in April 2017, with responsibility for FP&A, Corporate Control, Tax and Treasury.
Before moving to Geneva in 2011, James successfully led the market Finance functions in both Kazakhstan and in the UK. During his time in Kazakhstan James also led the local Global Supply Chain and factory organizations.
During his career at JTI, he had also led several significant key initiatives including the global SAP S4 Hana Finance transformation.
James joined JTI in his home country of the UK in 2002 to lead the Internal Audit function of Gallaher Group plc.
James is a UK-trained chartered accountant and started his professional career with PwC.
A key to sustainable growth is navigating JTI through a rapidly evolving legal, regulatory, and business environment, supporting reasonable and balanced health measures, and protecting our consumers' freedom to make informed choices.
John Fraser
Senior Vice President, Legal & Regulatory Affairs, and Chief Compliance Officer
John was appointed to JTI’s Executive Committee as Senior Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs in September 2020. In addition, John became the Chief Compliance Officer in October 2021. He is responsible for overseeing JTI’s global legal and compliance functions, intellectual property, and scientific and regulatory affairs.
Experience
John brings a wealth of U.S. and international legal expertise to JTI, having spent half of his career in private practice in the U.S. and the U.K., and half in senior in-house roles in multinational FMCGs. John joined JTI’s headquarters in 2017 as General Counsel for the Central Europe Region and subsequently the Western Europe Region.
Before joining JTI, John’s experience includes working as a litigation partner in a prominent U.S. law firm and as Deputy General Counsel for listed Fortune 100 and FTSE 10 multinationals. In these roles, he led the global litigation, regulatory, compliance, IP, industry affairs, and corporate legal teams.
John holds an LLB from Cardiff University in the UK and a JD from the University of Missouri - Kansas City in the U.S. He is a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England & Wales and an active member of the Missouri Bar.
Continuing to build competitive and cutting-edge IT and digital capabilities remains a critical focus for JTI. Technology underpins our quest for agility, increased productivity and improved customer experience by enabling a successful Global Business Services, which in turn frees markets and functions to focus on creating consumer and commercial value.
Tom Greene
Senior Vice President, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Global Business Services
Tom Greene was appointed to the role of Senior Vice President of Digital and Information Technology in January 2021. In December his role was extended to cover our Global Business Services. He is responsible for defining and driving JTI’s information technology and digitalization future direction and for ensuring the continued optimization and further evolution of our GBS across the organization.
Experience
An American and Irish national, Tom has extensive experience in the field of Information Technology, having spent most of his career in international companies in the U.S. Most recently he served as a limited partner of The CXO Fund, a venture capital fund, where for the past two years he has helped to curate and advise AI-based portfolio companies. He has also been advising private equity firms and large global companies to help solve their complex technology challenges.
From 2002 to 2018, Tom was the Chief Information and Business Services Officer for the Colgate-Palmolive Company. At Colgate-Palmolive, he led the modernization of their technology platform, data processes, digital capabilities and successfully built business service centers in Asia, Latin America and Europe. He spent six years with Honeywell International, formerly AlliedSignal Incorporated, where he was responsible for digital transformation.
Tom began his career in 1988 working for J.P. Morgan in the U.S. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Rutgers Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Delaware.
JTI’s global supply chain is at the very core of our business. Across our leaf origins, factories and offices, our teams play an instrumental role in exceeding consumer expectations every day. Together, we’re taking our operations to the next level of performance.
Phil Livingston
Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain
Phil Livingston was appointed to the role of Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain in June 2020. His role encompasses the development and implementation of all strategies and action plans to improve the productivity, quality and efficiency of JTI’s Global Supply Chain operations.
Experience
Phil joined JTI to lead the Manufacturing Performance Improvement function within the Global Supply Chain in January 2020. A British national, he brings a wealth of manufacturing operations experience gained from working with global manufacturers in the consumer goods and pharmaceutical space.
Phil has had a distinguished manufacturing career, and is highly skilled in operation excellence methodologies; he specializes in building capability in manufacturing facilities, irrespective of their maturity and location. From 2015 to 2019, he led the Engineering and Health, Safety and Environment function for COTY Inc. Prior to this, Phil spent seven years with Novartis where he was responsible for all technical functions within their Over-the-Counter Global Supply Chain organization. His career began in 1988 with Proctor & Gamble. In his 20 years with the company he acquired international experience across multiple categories, developing and implementing manufacturing strategies, technologies and best practices.
Phil holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Hiroyuki Miki
Senior Vice President, Research and Development
Hiroyuki Miki was appointed to JTI’s Executive Committee as Senior Vice President, Research and Development, in January 2016. He oversees the focus of potential future products for the company.
Experience
Hiroyuki brings a wealth of experience that crosses the globe. He became JTI’s Vice President, Product Strategy in 2014, a promotion that entailed him returning to Geneva from his native Japan. In 2012, he was appointed to the role of Vice President, Product Development for our parent company Japan Tobacco (JT), for whom he had been working since 2007 in Tokyo.
Hiroyuki moved to Europe in 1998 to help set up the manufacturing operation of the newly-formed JTI. He held positions in procurement and product development based in London, Geneva and finally in Trier, where he was a Director of Non-Tobacco Material Development.
Hiroyuki holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Applied Chemistry from the School of Science and Engineering at Waseda University, Japan.
We have always had an impressive record for innovation. It gives me great honor to be part of one of the most innovative and forward-thinking companies in the world.
Natasa Milosevic
Senior Vice President, Marketing & Sales
Natasa Milosevic was appointed to JTI’s Executive Committee as Senior Vice President Marketing and Sales in April 2023. She is responsible for Marketing and Commercial Strategies of our Combustible and Reduced Risk categories, and the global governance of JTI’s portfolio of brands and Consumer Strategies driving business growth.
Experience
Natasa, a Belgian national, has more than 25 years of international career and leadership experience within the industry. Prior to taking up her ExCom position, Natasa led the RRP Brands team as RRP Ploom, Digital and Global Consumer Care Vice President.
Natasa joined JTI in November 2019 to lead the Company’s drive into RRP Heated Tobacco category as Global Brand Director Ploom. In 2020, Natasa was appointed Ploom Vice President and spearheaded the development of the brand and commercial strategies, the launch of next generation Ploom in Japan and its geo-expansion strategy. She also headed the Global Consumer Care department and in 2021 her responsibilities were enlarged to include the Digital Consumer Experience, charged with driving consumer centricity across markets.
Natasa started her career in 1998 with Philip Morris International where, over the course of more than two decades, she progressed across various global and market roles, including Director Marketing Benelux in 2007 and Global Director Marlboro Brand Building at HQ in 2012. At the start of industry expansion into Reduced Risk Products in 2015, Natasa was appointed Director Marketing Italy, responsible for both RRP and combustibles, and was closely involved with the launch and company’s entry into the RRP category.
Natasa holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business, Management, Marketing, Law, Finance and Banking from the City University of New York, USA.
It is an exciting time for JTI and the industry, as the consumer expectations are evolving, and the industry is becoming a fast-changing environment.
I am thrilled to be charged with leading JTI’s portfolio of power brands and commercial excellence driven by consumer centricity as we create a better future.
Lucine Ovumyan
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communications
Lucine Ovumyan was appointed to JTI’s Executive Committee as Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communications in September 2021. She is responsible for Corporate Communications, Corporate & Fiscal Affairs, Community Investment and Anti-Illicit Trade.
Experience
Lucine has more than 15 years of leadership experience in the tobacco industry.
Prior to her current role, Lucine was General Manager of JTI Singapore, a position she started in 2019.
She moved to our head office in Geneva in 2014 and served as Vice President of the Corporate Development (now Corporate Affairs and Communications) for the Eastern Europe Region.
After the acquisition of Gallaher by JTI in 2007, Lucine was appointed to lead the newly formed joint Legal function of JTI in Russia.
She had joined Gallaher’s Legal department in Russia in 2001, where she had held various positions of increasing responsibilities.
She began her career in an international law firm in 1998.
Lucine holds Master of Laws degrees from Lomonosov Moscow State University and from the University of Manchester.
I am proud to lead a team dedicated to providing the company with strategic advice and practical solutions to navigate an increasingly complex political and business regulatory environment.
Idil Yasa
Regional President, Americas
Idil Yasa was appointed to JTI’s Executive Committee as Regional President, Americas, in September 2021. She is responsible for the region’s performance, development and growth.
Experience
Idil brings a wealth of commercial experience with more than 20 years at JTI, across a wide range of business disciplines, and holds Turkish and Swiss nationalities.
Prior to taking up her current role, she was the General Manager for the CzHuSk (Czech, Hungary, Slovakia) markets cluster.
Idil was appointed Strategy and Insights Vice President in 2017 in HQ Marketing and Sales global function. Before that, she led JTI’s strategic corporate response against the Branding Ban regulation.
In 2008, Idil joined the CIS+ Region, serving as the Marketing and Sales Vice President for 7 years, and from 2006 she led the Global Winston Brand group’s strategy and portfolio pillar, after moving to Geneva HQ to join the Brand group in 2004.
From 1998, she held several positions of increasing responsibilities within the JTI Turkey marketing team. Prior to her experience in JTI, she worked 4 years for the Adidas group in Turkey.
She has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey.
I am committed to drive the growth of our people and our businesses across the Americas Region. We differentiate ourselves in the way we respect consumer choice and each other, our top-quality portfolio of brands and taking a long-term approach in all we do.
We have always had an impressive record for innovation. It gives me great honor to be part of one of the most innovative and forward-thinking companies in the world.
Hiroyuki Miki
Senior Vice President, Research and Development
Hiroyuki Miki was appointed to JTI’s Executive Committee as Senior Vice President, Research and Development, in January 2016. He oversees the focus of potential future products for the company.
Experience
Hiroyuki brings a wealth of experience that crosses the globe. He became JTI’s Vice President, Product Strategy in 2014, a promotion that entailed him returning to Geneva from his native Japan. In 2012, he was appointed to the role of Vice President, Product Development for our parent company Japan Tobacco (JT), for whom he had been working since 2007 in Tokyo.
Hiroyuki moved to Europe in 1998 to help set up the manufacturing operation of the newly-formed JTI. He held positions in procurement and product development based in London, Geneva and finally in Trier, where he was a Director of Non-Tobacco Material Development.
Hiroyuki holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Applied Chemistry from the School of Science and Engineering at Waseda University, Japan.
It is an exciting time for JTI and the industry, as the consumer expectations are evolving, and the industry is becoming a fast-changing environment.
I am thrilled to be charged with leading JTI’s portfolio of power brands and commercial excellence driven by consumer centricity as we create a better future.
Natasa Milosevic
Senior Vice President, Marketing & Sales
Natasa Milosevic was appointed to JTI’s Executive Committee as Senior Vice President Marketing and Sales in April 2023. She is responsible for Marketing and Commercial Strategies of our Combustible and Reduced Risk categories, and the global governance of JTI’s portfolio of brands and Consumer Strategies driving business growth.
Experience
Natasa, a Belgian national, has more than 25 years of international career and leadership experience within the industry. Prior to taking up her ExCom position, Natasa led the RRP Brands team as RRP Ploom, Digital and Global Consumer Care Vice President.
Natasa joined JTI in November 2019 to lead the Company’s drive into RRP Heated Tobacco category as Global Brand Director Ploom. In 2020, Natasa was appointed Ploom Vice President and spearheaded the development of the brand and commercial strategies, the launch of next generation Ploom in Japan and its geo-expansion strategy. She also headed the Global Consumer Care department and in 2021 her responsibilities were enlarged to include the Digital Consumer Experience, charged with driving consumer centricity across markets.
Natasa started her career in 1998 with Philip Morris International where, over the course of more than two decades, she progressed across various global and market roles, including Director Marketing Benelux in 2007 and Global Director Marlboro Brand Building at HQ in 2012. At the start of industry expansion into Reduced Risk Products in 2015, Natasa was appointed Director Marketing Italy, responsible for both RRP and combustibles, and was closely involved with the launch and company’s entry into the RRP category.
Natasa holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business, Management, Marketing, Law, Finance and Banking from the City University of New York, USA.
I am proud to lead a team dedicated to providing the company with strategic advice and practical solutions to navigate an increasingly complex political and business regulatory environment.
Lucine Ovumyan
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communications
Lucine Ovumyan was appointed to JTI’s Executive Committee as Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communications in September 2021. She is responsible for Corporate Communications, Corporate & Fiscal Affairs, Community Investment and Anti-Illicit Trade.
Experience
Lucine has more than 15 years of leadership experience in the tobacco industry.
Prior to her current role, Lucine was General Manager of JTI Singapore, a position she started in 2019.
She moved to our head office in Geneva in 2014 and served as Vice President of the Corporate Development (now Corporate Affairs and Communications) for the Eastern Europe Region.
After the acquisition of Gallaher by JTI in 2007, Lucine was appointed to lead the newly formed joint Legal function of JTI in Russia.
She had joined Gallaher’s Legal department in Russia in 2001, where she had held various positions of increasing responsibilities.
She began her career in an international law firm in 1998.
Lucine holds Master of Laws degrees from Lomonosov Moscow State University and from the University of Manchester.
I am committed to drive the growth of our people and our businesses across the Americas Region. We differentiate ourselves in the way we respect consumer choice and each other, our top-quality portfolio of brands and taking a long-term approach in all we do.
Idil Yasa
Regional President, Americas
Idil Yasa was appointed to JTI’s Executive Committee as Regional President, Americas, in September 2021. She is responsible for the region’s performance, development and growth.
Experience
Idil brings a wealth of commercial experience with more than 20 years at JTI, across a wide range of business disciplines, and holds Turkish and Swiss nationalities.
Prior to taking up her current role, she was the General Manager for the CzHuSk (Czech, Hungary, Slovakia) markets cluster.
Idil was appointed Strategy and Insights Vice President in 2017 in HQ Marketing and Sales global function. Before that, she led JTI’s strategic corporate response against the Branding Ban regulation.
In 2008, Idil joined the CIS+ Region, serving as the Marketing and Sales Vice President for 7 years, and from 2006 she led the Global Winston Brand group’s strategy and portfolio pillar, after moving to Geneva HQ to join the Brand group in 2004.
From 1998, she held several positions of increasing responsibilities within the JTI Turkey marketing team. Prior to her experience in JTI, she worked 4 years for the Adidas group in Turkey.
She has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey.