Philip Morris International

Philip Morris International’s CEO, Jacek Olczak, has urged governments worldwide to speed up efforts to end cigarette smoking.

Speaking at the UnHerd Club in London, Olczak criticized current measures to reduce smoking rates, stating that they are not effective enough and may actually prolong smoking. He presented a hypothetical model, based on World Health Organization data and other sources, showing that if smokers switched completely to smoke-free products that are 80% less risky than cigarettes, there could be a tenfold reduction in smoking-related deaths compared to traditional tobacco control measures.

Olczak highlighted the paradox of smoke-free products being banned in some countries while cigarettes, which pose a greater risk, remain legal. He called on governments to follow the examples of Sweden, Japan, and the UK by adopting policies that offer smokers a variety of less harmful alternatives. Olczak also challenged anti-tobacco organizations to update their thinking and support innovation in the pursuit of a smoke-free future.

Since 2016, Philip Morris International has been committed to moving away from cigarettes and has invested over $10.5 billion in developing smoke-free products, which now account for 35% of the company’s total net revenues.