Hartford Business Journal

HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JUNE 24, 2024 13 ON THE RECORD | Q&A a cigarette, but it's not at all smoking a cigarette because it's not combusted. Combustion is the process where a cigarette releases nicotine because someone lights it on fire at the end, and it's the heat in the lit end of the cigarette that actually releases nico- tine from the tobacco, but it's also the fire that causes combustion, which creates all of the harmful chemicals in the smoker's lungs when inhaled. That was a big scientific break- through decades ago: to understand what is creating all of the harmful chemicals in the smoke. So, PMI set about saying: 'You know, there's about a billion people who smoke in the world, and as much as governments, companies, friends and family tell them to quit, the reality is that some won't. So, how could we create a better product that would significantly reduce harmful chemi- cals and help smokers by switching to a better alternative?' And that was the beginning of IQOS, which heats tobacco, but it does not burn it, and therefore about 95% of harmful and potentially harmful chem- icals that are in smoke are not present in the aerosols. It's launched in Japan, it's incredibly successful there, and we are bringing it to the U.S. over the course of the next month. Q. How do nicotine products help people stop smoking cigarettes? A. Nicotine is important to help someone move down the spectrum of harm — from a smoker who's enjoying nicotine in the most harmful form, to have nicotine, but without the harm of combustion first, and then eventually, you get through without the harm of tobacco at all. Q. What is it like being a woman leader in a space dominated by men? A. What I have found over the years is that just by focusing on succeeding and growing a business, and growing an organization through being a good people-leader, that's the most important, and it's irrespective of gender or any other diversity lens that you want to put on it. Because I do happen to be in an underrepresented group, I've found a lot of value and personal gratification as well in helping mentor, sponsor, speak to groups of women business leaders who are looking to grow in their career. I learned from them; hope- fully they learned something from me. Q. What would you be if you weren't head of PMI's U.S. and Americas businesses? A. I have a deep love of learning, especially about people and different cultures, so I most likely would have ended up in academia. However, it would have certainly been fun to be a writer or a photographer. Q. Is there anything else you'd like people to know about you? A. I grew up on a farm in Mississippi. My parents were school teachers who taught me the value of hard work and teamwork at an early age. Through my many years at PMI, I've had the opportunity to live in various places around the world. I'm looking forward to bringing those experiences and lessons to this job and to this state — which I'm proud to call my home. Philip Morris International's headquarters at 677 Washington Blvd., in Stamford. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO PHILIP MORRIS INTERNATIONAL Product sales breakdown (2023) PRODUCT UNITS SOLD CIGARETTES* 612.9B HEATED TOBACCO UNITS 125.2B NICOTINE POUCHES 421.1B SNUS 240.4B MOIST SNUFF 133.7B Revenues breakdown (2023) PRODUCT SALES COMBUSTIBLE TOBACCO PRODUCTS $22.3B SMOKE-FREE PRODUCTS $12.8B TOTAL $35.2B *Cigarettes not sold in U.S. | Source: PMI annual report Nominations close 7•16•2024 Go to Hartfordbusiness.com/HBJ-Events or scan the QR Code to Nominate MAJOR SPONSOR PRESENTING SPONSOR SUPPORTING SPONSORS HARTFORD BUSINESS JOURNAL ATTENTION CONNECTICUT BUSINESS COMMUNITY! We are excited to honor the top-performing C-level executives who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and achievement. & Lifetime Achievement Award

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