Tobacco manager
“I don’t feel like I’m part of a dark force”
Smoke? No thanks. The tobacco company Philip Morris wants to change radically. Germany boss Veronika F. Rost talks about her mission to make the country cigarette-free.
On the table in front of her lie colorful, pen-like objects: minimalist high-tech devices. You should smoke with them – or as it is called with e-cigarettes: vape. Veronika F. Rost, 55, has been the German boss of Philip Morris, one of the world’s largest tobacco companies, since April 2024. The company still generates the majority of its sales of $38.8 billion from cigarettes, but the business with supposedly less harmful tobacco heaters and e-cigarettes is to be expanded. Their share in Germany is around six percent. Rust is supposed to change that: upwards. She previously worked at cosmetics giant Esteé Lauder and spirits company Diageo.
Published in stern 48/2024
Source: Stern
