New PMI MD for Malaysia, Singapore

Philip Morris International has appointed Kang TaeKoo as managing director for its operations in Malaysia and Singapore, according to a story in The Edge Financial Daily.

In his new role, Kang will be responsible for the strategic growth of Philip Morris (M) Sdn Bhd’s (PMM) business in an increasingly challenging regulatory and business environment for the tobacco industry.

In a statement, PMM said Kang had had extensive experience in the global tobacco industry. He started his career with Philip Morris South Korea in 1998 and was subsequently appointed general manager for Indochina in 2007 and director of sales and distribution for South Korea in 2011. Before taking up his appointment in Malaysia, Kang was area vice-president for Eastern Russia.

“Together with my team, I am looking forward to further growing our business here in Malaysia, and to continue delivering quality, value and innovation to meet the evolving needs of our consumers,” said Kang.

“While I recognize the increasingly challenging industry landscape, I also see many opportunities.

“In view of some of the challenges, I also hope to continue working closely with the Malaysian government to address pertinent industry issues, such as the significant illicit trade in cigarettes.”