Philip Morris International CEO Speaks at Boston College Chief Executives Club

André Calantzopoulos, chief executive officer of Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM), today addressed the Boston College Chief Executives Club, setting out how PMI is radically changing its business to unsmoke the world and encourage the hundreds of millions of current adult smokers who would otherwise continue smoking cigarettes to change to better options. The speech was delivered days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that IQOS, PMI’s electrically heated tobacco system, is appropriate for the protection of public health and authorized it for sale in the U.S.

“We need to cut through the fog of misinformation; not all tobacco companies are the same. No other company in our industry has stated such bold claims: To wholly change their business model and unsmoke the world,” said Calantzopoulos at the event. Further, he called on attendees to consider the possibilities of working in greater collaboration with governments, NGOs and others, adding: “Smokers will quit cigarettes in favor of better options much more quickly if regulatory bodies and healthcare stakeholders support a pragmatic and realistic harm reduction vision. At the very least, we should make sure existing smokers have access to, and accurate information about, better alternatives to cigarettes.”

Just as Boston’s private and state sectors prioritized their investment behind positive social change to build a culture rich in academics, health and wellness, and innovation, PMI is investing significantly in scientific research, development and manufacturing facilities—to the value of over $6 billion USD to date—to transform the public health landscape of tomorrow.

Calling the FDA’s decision a “major milestone,” Calantzopoulos explained that PMI is determined to continue its transformative vision to positively change public health and unsmoke the world.

A complete copy of these remarks is available here.

Further information about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announcement is available here.

Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future

Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company and its shareholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, smoke-free products and associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the U.S. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. PMI's smoke-free IQOS product portfolio includes heat-not-burn and nicotine-containing vapor products. As of March 31, 2019, PMI estimates that approximately 7.3 million adult smokers around the world have already stopped smoking and switched to PMI’s heat-not-burn product, which is currently available for sale in 47 markets in key cities or nationwide under the IQOS brand. For more information, please visit PMI website and PMI Science website.

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Contact information

Philip Morris International
Corey Henry
Philip Morris International Media Office
T. +1.202.679.7296
E. corey.henry@pmi.com