Tobacco Asia

68 tobaccoasia CLOSING NEWS 卷尾新闻 Industry Mourns Dr. Iqbal Lambat Dr. Iqbal Lambat, founder of Star Agritech International and a longtime figure in the global tobacco industry, has passed away. In announcing his passing, the company described Dr. Lambat as a visionary leader whose belief in people, innova- tion, and progress shaped both the organization he built and the wider industry in which he worked for decades. Colleagues and business partners widely respected him for his integrity, dedication, and leadership style, which the company said left a lasting impact across the sector. Dr. Lambat founded Star Tobacco International after a career that included senior roles with several of the world's leading multinational companies. The business later rebranded as Star Agritech International in 2018 as it broadened its focus and international reach. Before establishing his own company, Dr. Lambat worked with major global firms including Philip Morris International, Japan Tobacco International, and R.J. Reynolds International. Earlier in his career, he also held positions with Piaget/Baume & Mercier and Dow Chemical Europe. Often described as one of the tobacco industry's most recognized and influential executives, Dr. Lambat combined commercial experience with a strong academic background. He earned master's degrees in finance, marketing, and economics from Webster University Geneva and later completed a doctorate in international finance at Business School Lausanne. Throughout his career, Dr. Lambat became known for his articulate views on the global tobacco business, agriculture, and international markets. Industry observers frequently pointed to his ability to balance strategic thinking with a people-focused leadership approach, qualities that helped define the culture and direction of Star Agritech. Tobacco Asia and its readers benefited greatly from Dr. Lambat's knowledge and experience through his feature articles published over many years. Together with his company, Star Agritech, he was also a longstanding and valued exhibitor at the annual InterSupply exhibition. Tobacco Asia and InterSupply are deeply grateful for his contributions, and we will miss his insight, professionalism, and gracious demeanor. Dr. Lambat's passing marks the loss of a highly respected figure whose influence extended well beyond his own organiza- tion to stakeholders and individuals throughout the industry. PMI Names New C.F.O. Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) named Massimo Andolina as group chief financial officer, effective August 1, 2026. He will report to group c.e.o. Jacek Olczak. Emmanuel Babeau will step down from the c.f.o. role and remain with the company until March 31, 2027 as strategic advisor to the group c.e.o. to support the transition. "I am confident that his experience, business judgment, and leadership will serve him extremely well in his new role as we continue to deliver best-in-class growth and sustainable performance for shareholders," said Jacek Olczak, group c.e.o.. Olczak also thanked Babeau, saying, "I would like to warmly thank Emmanuel for his leadership and strong delivery over the past six years, a period of remarkable success for our smoke-free business, with strong financial performance and excellent shareholder returns." Andolina joined PMI in 2008 and has held multiple senior operational and strategic roles across the organization. Since 2023, he has served as president of the Europe region, where he led the execution of strategic and operational priorities and oversaw financial performance in PMI's largest and most advanced smoke-free market. During his tenure, the Europe region delivered strong top-line and bottom-line growth, supported by progress in smoke-free products at scale and steady performance in combustibles. He also led major organiza- tional changes in the region, strengthened management capabili- ties, improved financial discipline, and pushed efforts to accelerate sustainable growth while promoting innovation, talent development, and stakeholder engagement across Europe. From 2018 to 2023, Andolina worked as senior vice president of global operations, where he managed a supply chain and manufacturing organization of more than 30,000 employees. He led transformation programs and operational efficiency initiatives across the company that continue to support PMI's performance today, including improvements in gross margin and operational resilience. From 2016 to 2017, he served as vice president of pmi transformation and contributed to key shifts in the company's development strategy. Before joining PMI, Andolina held senior business development and strategy roles at multinational companies. He holds a Master of Science in mechanical and industrial engineering from the University of Palermo and an MBA from IMD in Lausanne. Australia's Tobacco Shift Australians consumed more nicotine in 2025 than they did eight years earlier, yet household spending on cigarettes fell, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The agency reported that 80% of cigarettes smoked in Australia last year came from cheaper illegal products. The ABS analysis showed total nicotine consumption rose 40% between 2017 and 2025, outpacing population growth of 14% over the same period. The agency linked the increase to illegal tobacco, along with growth in e-cigarettes and other nicotine products. In 2017, illicit sources accounted for 12% of total tobacco consumption. By 2025, that share climbed to 80%, the ABS said. Despite higher consumption, Australians spent less on cigarettes overall. Household tobacco spending fell back to levels last seen in 2016. ABS attributed the shift to rising prices for legal cigarettes, which have tripled since 2016, while prices for illegal tobacco have stayed relatively stable. ABS noted this marked the first time it published estimates on illegal tobacco consumption. It developed the methodology as part of broader work to determine how the Dr. Iqbal Lambat, founder of Star Agritech International, leaves behind a lasting legacy in the global tobacco industry, where he was respected for his vision, integrity, and leadership. Credit: Star Agritech International.

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