Philip Morris International Announces New Regional Leadership

Article content

The appointments strengthen the company’s leadership pipeline as it moves towards a smoke

Article content

‑

Article content

Article content

free future

Article content

STAMFORD, CT — Philip Morris International (PMI) (NYSE: PM) announced a series of regional leadership appointments that support its ongoing shift toward a smoke‑free future.

Article content

Effective August 1, 2026, Marco Hannappel has been appointed President, Europe Region, and Can Kuterdem has been appointed President, Latin America & Canada Region. These appointments build on PMI’s evolved organizational model announced in late 2025, under which Gijs de Best serves as President, South Asia, Indochina, CIS & Middle East & Africa Region, and Vassilis Gkatzelis continues as President East & Southeast Asia, Pacific and PMI Global Travel Retail Region. The four regional presidents report to Frederic de Wilde – CEO of the International Business Unit of PMI and are the key operational leaders for the unit that generates the large majority of total PMI net revenues.

Article content

Article content

Marco Hannappel

Article content

Article content

takes over the role of President, Europe Region, succeeding Massimo Andolina, who was recently announced as PMI’s Group Chief Financial Officer, both effective August 1, 2026.

Article content

Hannappel brings extensive international experience and a strong track record in leading business growth across complex and highly regulated markets. Since joining the company in 2019 as President and Managing Director Italy, he has held several senior leadership roles of increasing responsibility. He later served as Area Vice President Southwest Europe, managing Italy and Iberia, and most recently, as President of the Latin America & Canada Region.

Article content

Can Kuterdem

Article content

is appointed President, Latin America & Canada Region, effective August 1, 2026, succeeding Marco Hannappel.

Article content

Kuterdem is a seasoned business leader with strong general management experience and a people-centric leadership approach. Most recently, as Managing Director, Poland, he transformed one of Philip Morris International’s largest European markets into a multi-category business, driving growth and strengthening organizational engagement. Previously, he served as Vice President Strategy & Program Delivery, Europe Region, where he played a central role in shaping the regional strategy and leading a more integrated approach to execution of business-critical initiatives across markets.

Article content

Before joining the company in 2020, he built an international career in consulting and technology, including The Boston Consulting Group and Samsung, where he held senior leadership roles across multiple regions.

Article content

Gijs de Best

Article content

was appointed President, South Asia, Indochina, CIS & Middle East & Africa Region in January 2026. He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience at the company, with a strong track record of driving business performance through consumer-centricity and a passion for developing teams. He began his career at PMI in 2004 as a financial analyst in the Netherlands and has since held a range of increasingly senior roles across multiple markets and regions, most recently as President, Philippines, and Vice President Strategy & Program Delivery.

Article content

Vassilis Gkatzelis

Article content

continues as President, East & Southeast Asia, Pacific and PMI Global Travel Retail Region, a role he assumed in 2024, with expanded accountabilities for Southeast Asia as of 2026. He oversees a diverse set of markets spanning developed and developing economies, alongside the Global Travel Retail business.

Article content

Article content

Since joining the company in 2003, Gkatzelis has held a wide range of strategic and operational leadership roles across Europe, the Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific and the Global Operations Center in Switzerland. He brings a strong track record leading business transformation at scale, and building high-performing organizations, with a focus on external engagement and talent development. Prior to his current role, he served as President Director of PT HM Sampoerna Tbk., PMI’s affiliate listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, as well as Managing Director of Egypt & Levant Cluster, where he led the build-up and scaling of the smoke-free business.

Article content

These appointments reflect Philip Morris International’s continued focus on strengthening leadership capabilities as a leading global consumer goods company. Earlier in 2026 Philip Morris International evolved its organizational model and implemented two new primary business units in addition to its wellness unit Aspeya, reporting to Group CEO PMI Jacek Olczak – PMI International under the leadership of Frederic de Wilde, CEO PMI International, and PMI U.S. – under the leadership of Stacey Kennedy, CEO PMI U.S.

Article content

Philip Morris International: A Global Smoke-Free Champion

Article content

Philip Morris International is a leading international consumer goods company, actively delivering a smoke-free future and evolving its portfolio for the long term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company’s current product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, nicotine pouch, and e-vapor products. Our smoke-free products are available for sale in over 105 markets, and as of December 31, 2025, PMI estimates they were used by over 43 million legal-age consumers around the world, many of whom have moved away from cigarettes or significantly reduced their consumption. The smoke-free business accounted for 43% of PMI’s first-quarter 2026 total net revenues. Since 2008, PMI has invested over $16 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products for adults who would otherwise smoke, with the goal of completely ending the sale of cigarettes. This includes the building of world-class scientific assessment capabilities, notably in the areas of pre-clinical systems toxicology, clinical and behavioral research, as well as post-market studies. Following a robust science-based review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the marketing of Swedish Match’s General snus and ZYN nicotine pouches and versions of PMI’s IQOS devices and consumables – the first-ever such authorizations in their respective categories. Versions of IQOS devices and consumables and General snus also obtained the first-ever Modified Risk Tobacco Product authorizations from the FDA. With a strong foundation and significant expertise in life sciences, PMI has a long-term ambition to expand into wellness areas. References to “PMI”, “we”, “our” and “us” mean Philip Morris International Inc., and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.

Article content

Article content

Article content

Article content

View source version on businesswire.com:

Article content

Article content

Article content

Contacts

Article content