Imperial Brands officially launched its new Creamy Tobacco flavor, bringing the total number of options in the blu portfolio to 16. Priced at £5.99, the new variant will be available across the blu bar kit and pod pack ranges and is designed to offer a rich tobacco taste with a smooth, creamy finish. First announced in December, the company said the addition responds to continued demand for tobacco-flavored vape products and is intended to create further sales opportunities for UK retailers.
Tag: Imperial Brands
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Imperial Names Rishton Incoming Chair
Imperial Brands PLC appointed John Rishton as non-executive director and chair designate, effective July 13. He will succeed Thérèse Esperdy as chair on December 1 when she retires after leading the board since January 2020. Rishton brings extensive board and executive experience, currently serving as chair of Informa PLC and non-executive director at Diageo PLC, and previously as CEO of Rolls-Royce Group PLC, CFO and CEO of Royal Ahold NV, and CFO of British Airways PLC. The appointment follows a comprehensive succession process overseen by the People, Governance & Sustainability Committee.
Sue Clark, senior independent director, praised Rishton’s experience in leading complex, regulated businesses through transformation, describing him as an “exceptional candidate” to guide the board. Esperdy was recognized for her decade of leadership, including the turnaround of Imperial Brands’ core tobacco business, expansion into next-generation products, and delivery of over £10 billion in shareholder returns. CEO Lukas Paravicini welcomed Rishton, emphasizing continuity in the company’s strategic objectives and ongoing focus on sustainable growth.
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Imperial Revenue Dips, But Delivers Strong NGP Growth
Imperial Brands announced its full-year results for the year ended September 20, highlighting continued operational momentum and robust shareholder returns, even as reported earnings faced pressure. The company posted 4.1% growth in tobacco and Next Generation Products (NGP) net revenue, driven by double-digit NGP gains, strong tobacco pricing, and stable market share across its five priority markets. Since FY20, Imperial has added 48 basis points of market share. However, reported revenue slipped 0.7%.
“We will continue to invest in consumer insights, innovation, and marketing capabilities,” said Imperial CEO Lukas Paravicini. “We will also continue to make deliberate, focused choices about which opportunities we pursue, and develop a simpler, more efficient, and more agile organization.”
NGP performance remained a standout, with net revenue climbing 13.7% and reported NGP revenue up 14.9%, fueled by oral nicotine growth in the U.S. and Europe and share gains across all smoke-free categories. Adjusted operating profit rose 4.6%, though reported operating profit fell 1.8%. Adjusted earnings per share increased 9.1%, supported by profit growth and share count reduction, while reported EPS dropped 16.5%.
Cash generation remained strong, with free cash flow of £2.7 billion, largely driven by the combustibles business. Shareholder returns were a key focus: the FY25 dividend rose 4.5%, and a £1.25 billion buyback was completed. Over FY21–FY25, Imperial returned £10 billion to shareholders, and a new £1.45 billion buyback for FY26 has already commenced.
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Imperial Encourages Retailers to Respond to UK Nicotine Survey
Imperial Brands is urging UK retailers to contribute to the government’s call for evidence on the proposed retail licensing scheme for nicotine products in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The consultation, launched by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), will close December 3.
Andrew Malm, Imperial’s UK market manager, emphasized that the survey is a key opportunity for retailers to shape policy, ensure fair competition, and address challenges such as illicit sales and age verification compliance. The proposed licensing scheme aims to regulate the sale of tobacco and nicotine products, protecting both legitimate retailers and consumers.
Retailers can participate by completing the online survey, providing their insights to influence the design and implementation of the new regulatory framework.
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Imperial Launches THR Myth-Busting Series
Imperial Brands Science launched a new educational video series to debunk common myths about nicotine, vaping, and other NGPs. The short videos address topics such as the “popcorn lung” myth, misconceptions about regulation and research, passive vaping versus passive smoking, and misunderstandings about nicotine itself.
The series is in response to a new 2025 survey by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has found that misconceptions about vaping and next-generation products (NGPs) have reached record levels in Great Britain. According to the report, 63% of young people and 53% of adult smokers now wrongly believe that vaping is as harmful—or more harmful—than smoking. ASH noted that increased media focus on youth vaping may have contributed to this widespread misunderstanding.
Imperial Brands said the initiative aims to improve public understanding of tobacco harm reduction and highlight the potential of NGPs as less harmful alternatives for adult smokers. “We want to ensure consumers have the right information and continue to challenge misconceptions through responsible education and communication,” the company said.
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Harm Reduction is a Race Where Everyone Can Win
Deborah Binks-Moore, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Imperial Brands, delivered an optimistic yet pragmatic keynote at GTNF, urging governments, regulators, and industry leaders to work together to accelerate global harm reduction. Binks-Moore described the moment as an “inflection point” in the global effort to reduce smoking, noting that next-generation products have moved from niche to mainstream in only a few years.
“Just a few years ago, next-generation products were a small part of the market. Now they are becoming mainstream,” she said. “Our journey to reduce smoking must place the consumer at the heart of everything we do.”
She celebrated the rapid progress made by the industry but cautioned that success brings new challenges.
“Our very success is now creating fresh challenges, which will require fresh thinking,” she said. Drawing parallels with other sectors in transition—such as energy—she encouraged policymakers to heed lessons from those industries: transformation succeeds only when science, regulation, and innovation align.
“Tobacco harm reduction has the potential to prevent the premature deaths of many millions of lives over the long term,” she said. “This means we need an equally long-term approach to policymaking. We need people from different political traditions to work together. We need regulators to collaborate with responsible industry players. And we need central governments to partner closely with local administrations.”
She called on policymakers in Brussels, WHO delegates, and regulators worldwide to develop “enforceable, sustainable frameworks” built on facts, science, and shared principles.
Binks-Moore urged all stakeholders—policymakers, scientists, and business leaders alike—to begin with the individual consumer. “We need to understand and respect them for who they are, not who we wish them to be,” she said. “If we follow these principles, harm reduction is a race where everyone can win.”
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Imperial on Track for Full-Year Guidance
Imperial Brands has issued a pre-close trading update for full-year 2025, according to a press release. This is the fifth and final year of the company’s 2021 strategy and its FY25 performance provides a strong foundation looking ahead to the next phase of the company’s strategy to 2030, according to a press release.
At constant currency, Imperial is on track to deliver low single-digit tobacco and NGP net revenue growth for FY25, with group adjusted operating profit growth at a similar rate to last year, in line with guidance. NGP losses are expected to be broadly flat year on year.
Adjusted operating cash conversion remains strong, and the company expects its full-year leverage to continue to be at the lower end of its 2.0 to 2.5 range for adjusted net debt to EBITDA.
Taking dividends and buyback together, Imperial expects its capital returns to shareholders will exceed £2.7 billion in the coming fiscal year, representing around 11% of its current market capitalization. Over the past five years from FY21 to FY25, Imperial has delivered a cumulative c. £10 billion of capital returns to shareholders.
Annual results for the year ended 30 September 2025 will be announced on 18 November 2025.
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Luersman Joins Imperial Board
Abbe Luersman will join the Imperial Brands’ board as a nonexecutive director, effective January 12, 2026, according to a press release.
Luersman, who is chief human resources officer of Walgreens Inc., has had a career as an HR leader in global listed businesses including Otis Worldwide Corporation, Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV, Unilever, and Whirlpool Corporation. She is also a nonexecutive director and remuneration committee chair at Just Eat Takeaway NV and co-chair of the Gartner CHRO Global Leadership Board.
Thérèse Esperdy, chair of Imperial Brands, said, “On behalf of the board, I am delighted to welcome Abbe to Imperial. Abbe has a proven track record in organizational design, integration and cultural change—both as a chief people officer and a nonexecutive director. She has transferred her skills across different sectors, including consumer goods, retail, manufacturing, and industrial technology. Abbe brings deep and wide-ranging experience in transformation programs, an area of strategic importance for Imperial Brands. The board will benefit greatly from her insights and experience, and we look forward to working with her.”
Luersman will become a member of the Remuneration and the People, Governance and Sustainability Committees upon joining the board.
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Imperial’s CEO, Bomhard, Retires
Imperial Brands announced today (May 14) that CEO Stefan Bomhard will retire after five years in the job. He will continue to serve on the company’s board until December 31 and be available until May 2026 to support the transition. Chief financial officer Lukas Paravicini will be promoted to CEO October 1.
“While Bomhard’s retirement is disappointing, this doesn’t imply any change to the plans laid out at the company’s recent investor event,” Panmure Liberum analyst Rae Maile wrote. “The transition will be seamless given Paravicini’s skills.”
Paravicini, CFO since May 2021, has been instrumental in driving consistent growth over the past four years and leads the long-term program to transform the company’s tech and data capabilities, the company said. Chief strategy and development officer, Murray McGowan, will replace Paravicini as CFO.
With the news, Imperial’s shares dropped more than 7% as investors reacted to the unexpected loss of a leader credited with turning the company around. The company recently reported a 1.8% rise in first-half adjusted operating profit and reaffirmed its annual forecast after reporting market share growth in its five priority markets.
“Prior to Bomhard’s arrival, Imperial had lost market share in its core tobacco business and failed to gain any real traction with new products like vapes, resulting in years of missed sales targets and a 2020 write-down,” Shashwat Awasthi and Emma Rumney wrote for Reuters. “Bomhard restored that market share, sales growth, and healthy investor returns by retreating to focus on traditional tobacco in Imperial’s key markets.
“He also fine-tuned the company’s strategy on smoking alternatives – a portfolio which delivered double-digit growth in the first half of this year.”
Paravicini told investors on an analysts’ call he was committed to Imperial’s five-year strategy set out in March and a capital allocation framework based around healthy returns for shareholders. Under that strategy, Paravicini is tasked with stepping up growth in smoking alternatives, where Imperial lags competitors, and compounding progress on tobacco in difficult markets like Germany, where Imperial has struggled to regain lost share amid stiff competition.
Bomhard said he did not plan to take any other executive role and was retiring, and that his departure was “a very personal decision” related to freeing up personal time for himself and his family after 11 years leading large UK companies. He was previously CEO of car distributor and held senior roles at Unilever and Bacardi.
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JTI and Others Close to Concluding Canadian Lawsuit
JTI-Macdonald Corp. (JTI-MC) announced that last week it, along with co-defendants Imperial Tobacco Canada (ITC), and Rothmans, Benson & Hedges (RBH), filed materials with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in joint support of plans to settle all pending tobacco-related claims in Canada, subject to proposed amendments being approved by the court.
The filings stem from a 2019 class-action lawsuit, where in October 2024 the court-appointed mediator proposed the three companies pay a total of 32.5 billion Canadian dollars to settle all litigation. In January, JTI-MC reached an agreement with the other co-defendants on the terms of allocation of payments that were then filed with the Ontario Superior Court Feb. 27, which now awaits court approval.
As a result, JTI-MC intends to record a provision for litigation losses related to the payment of the settlement amount as an operating expense in fiscal year 2024, for an adjusting subsequent event.