Seth Kaufman Appointed U.S. Chief Commercial Officer at PMI to Lead Smoke-Free Product Expansion

Seth Kaufman, U.S. Chief Commercial Officer, PMI • Photo Credit: PMI U.S.

STAMFORD, Conn., March 28, 2025 (BUSINESS WATCH GLOBAL) — Tobacco company Philip Morris International (PMI), through its U.S. affiliate PMI U.S., has announced the appointment of Seth Kaufman as Chief Commercial Officer, effective March 31, 2025. Kaufman will oversee commercial strategy for the company’s portfolio of smoke-free products, including ZYN nicotine pouches, General snus, and the IQOS heat-not-burn device.

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Kaufman will report directly to PMI U.S. CEO Stacey Kennedy and will be based at the company’s U.S. headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.

"As we invest in U.S. manufacturing and create new American jobs to meet the growing demand for our smoke-free products, Seth’s expertise in commercial marketing and in leading transformative growth strategies will accelerate our mission to improve public health by providing the 45 million legal-age nicotine consumers in the U.S. — 30 million of whom still smoke traditional cigarettes — with better alternatives," said Stacey Kennedy, CEO, PMI U.S.

Kaufman has held leadership roles in the consumer packaged goods sector for nearly three decades. He previously served as president and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy North America and led a corporate restructuring at Vintage Wine Estates. Prior to that, he spent almost 20 years at PepsiCo, including roles as chief marketing officer and president of North America Nutrition and The Hive.

PMI entered the U.S. market in late 2022 through the acquisition of Swedish Match, which has marketed ZYN nicotine pouches domestically for more than a decade. In January 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the marketing of 20 ZYN nicotine pouch products, determining they are appropriate for the protection of public health. ZYN is currently the only FDA-authorized nicotine pouch available in the U.S.

PMI’s U.S. affiliates are also introducing the IQOS device, which heats rather than burns tobacco. According to the company, the device significantly reduces exposure to harmful chemicals compared to combustible cigarettes.

In 2024, PMI U.S. announced two U.S.-based manufacturing projects: a new facility in Aurora, Colorado, for ZYN production and an expansion of the Swedish Match plant in Owensboro, Kentucky.

For more information, visit www.pmi.com.

Source: Philip Morris International