A global health expert and anti-smoking advocate for more than 30 years, Derek Yach is the owner of Global Health Strategies. Previously, Yach was the director of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World and a World Health Organization cabinet director and executive director for noncommunicable diseases and mental health. He was deeply involved with the development of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. On this page we feature a selection of Yach’s contributions to Tobacco Reporter.
JTI to Increase Heated-Tobacco Investment by 60%
JTI is targeting an average 15% market share across the 29 markets where Ploom operates, with Poland and Italy among its priorities.
Geek Bar Leads with Youth Vapers
The analysis of the 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that 5.2% of students currently vaped, while approximately 460,000 used nicotine pouches.
China Destroys $355M of Illicit Tobacco, Nicotine Products
Investigations of more than 4,500 smuggling cases have led to seizures of 1.3 billion cigarettes, 150,000 cigars, and 39.8 metric tons of cut tobacco.
Türkiye Eyes Electronic Age-Verification for Tobacco Sales
The Health Minister said about 33% of Türkiye’s population uses tobacco and that the country sold 160 billion cigarettes, equivalent to 8 billion packs, in 2025.
Russia Attacks JTI Subsidiary in Ukraine
JTI said the factory had been struck several times and that operations were suspended before the latest attacks. The company said all employees were safe.
Imperial Targets FY26 Growth, Announces £1.5B Buyback
The company expects adjusted operating profit growth within its 3% to 5% guidance, high-single-digit adjusted earnings per share growth, and £2.2B in free cash flow.
