Philip Morris International (PMI) has appointed Seth Kaufman as the chief commercial officer for its U.S. operations, where he will oversee the commercial strategy for the company’s portfolio of smoke-free products. This includes Zyn nicotine pouches, General snus, and the Iqos heat-not-burn device, PMI announced.
Kaufman, set to assume his role on March 31, will report directly to PMI U.S. CEO Stacey Kennedy and serve as a key member of the company’s U.S. executive leadership team.
“As we expand U.S. manufacturing and create new jobs to meet the increasing demand for our smoke-free products, Seth’s extensive background in commercial marketing and transformative growth strategies will help advance our mission to improve public health,” said Kennedy. “With 45 million legal-age nicotine consumers in the U.S.—including 30 million who still smoke traditional cigarettes—our goal is to offer them better alternatives.”
Bringing nearly three decades of experience in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, Kaufman has a strong track record of driving business growth. He spent nearly 20 years at PepsiCo, where he held leadership positions such as chief marketing officer and president of PepsiCo North America Nutrition and The Hive, according to a press release.
PMI, a global leader in the tobacco industry, made its entry into the U.S. market in late 2022 through the acquisition of Swedish Match. This move gave PMI a foothold in the American nicotine pouch sector, as Swedish Match had been selling Zyn in the U.S. for over a decade.
