LAUSANNE, Switzerland-Thursday 23 August 2018 [ AETOS Wire ]
(BUSINESS
WIRE)-- Philip Morris International Inc. (“PMI”) (NYSE: PM) is taking
its call to the creative, media and communications communities to go
smoke-free to the Middle East and Africa. We started our push at the
Cannes Festival of Creativity, where we asked creative agencies to join
PMI in making the world smoke-free. We are continuing our efforts to
find partners with a presence at the Middle East and Africa’s biggest
gathering of creative agencies, the Loeries Creative Week.
Our
lounge at the event is an interactive educational area raising
awareness on the role that science, innovation, and technology can play
for people who smoke, and informing on PMI’s efforts to replace
cigarettes with less harmful alternatives.
To
date, a number of agencies have signed up, including the first group in
Africa, Publicis Groupe Africa. We are asking creative agencies from
the Middle East and Africa to join their peers in going smoke-free. To
help them understand our commitment, PMI will provide education on the
fact that quitting tobacco and nicotine remains the best option for
those who smoke, but that for those smokers who would continue, a range
of smoke-free alternatives now exist.
Senior
Vice President Global Communications Marian Salzman said, “There is a
large opportunity in the Middle East and Africa to leverage innovation
and science for those who smoke and the people around them. We’re asking
the creative community based in the region and elsewhere to join us in
raising awareness around this important initiative.”
Drago
Azinovic, President of Middle East, Africa, and Duty Free, said, “Our
vision for the world and for the Middle East and Africa is for all
people who would otherwise continue to smoke to switch instead to less
harmful alternatives. Joining forces with the creative community in the
region can help make this important objective happen faster.”
Publicis
Groupe Africa is the first agency in the region to support PMI’s global
initiative. Its CEO John Dixon said: “We are proud to be the first
agency network in Africa to undertake a commitment for a smoke-free
future and are aligned with PMI’s bold ambition of a smoke-free world.
Our 14 agencies across two regions will support the cause.”
Agencies that are interested in taking on the challenge can contact Marian Salzman at marian.salzman@pmi.com.
Philip Morris International: Who We Are
We
are a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture
and sale of cigarettes and other nicotine-containing products in markets
outside the United States of America. We’re building our future on
smoke-free products that are a much better consumer choice than
continuing to smoke cigarettes. Through multidisciplinary capabilities
in product development, state-of-the-art facilities and scientific
substantiation, we aim to ensure that our smoke-free products meet adult
consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. Our vision
is that these products ultimately replace cigarettes to the benefit of
adult smokers, society, our company and our shareholders. For more
information, see www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.
Contacts
Philip Morris International media office
T: +41 (0)58 242 4500
E: Ryan.Sparrow@pmi.com
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