Philip Morris International Inc. announced the appointment of Christos Harpantidis to the position of Senior Vice President, External Affairs effective May 1, 2024. In his new role, Mr. Harpantidis will report to the company?s CEO, Jacek Olczak. Since joining PMI in 2003, Mr. Harpantidis has held several positions, including setting the commercialization strategy for smoke-free products in Lausanne, Switzerland, and serving as Chairman and Managing Director of Papastratos in Greece.

Most recently, he served as Area Vice President of the South East Europe Area. Throughout his career at PMI, he has strongly contributed to growing the company?s smoke-free consumer base, expanding its brand portfolio, and advocating for regulations consistent with PMI?s smoke-free ambitions. Prior to joining the company, he worked at Coca-Cola Hellenic.

Mr. Harpantidis holds a degree in physics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, as well as master?s degrees in economics and business administration from Kent University in the United Kingdom. This appointment follows the decision of Grégoire Verdeaux to leave PMI at the end of April to pursue other professional opportunities. During his tenure, Mr. Verdeaux expanded the company?s global tobacco harm reduction strategy and, with the team, built compelling policy positions and advocated for regulations consistent with smoke-free ambitions.