Team size: 80

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

At PMI, transformation is not only part of our business—it defines it. In the Europe region, where regulatory landscapes can shift rapidly and stakeholder expectations are high, we ensure legal is positioned as a key partner in driving resilience. Our approach blends strategic foresight with operational agility. During periods of instability—whether regulatory, geopolitical, or market-driven—legal is a pillar within cross-functional response teams, ensuring we anticipate risk, advise at speed, and protect the company’s ability to deliver on its smoke-free ambition. In times of uncertainty, our focus is not just on compliance, but on enabling decisive action that’s both lawful and aligned with PMI’s long-term vision.

With new ESG disclosure rules and EU supply chain due diligence standards affecting Switzerland, how is your legal team integrating sustainability into governance and daily operations, and what role does the general counsel play in shaping corporate strategy?

I view sustainability not just as a legal or compliance issue—but as a core business enabler. PMI’s Integrated Report outlines ambitious goals, including achieving net-zero carbon emissions across our value chain by 2040 and expanding our Sustainability Index, which now covers 35 KPIs across governance, social impact, and environmental performance.

Legal contributes by ensuring our sustainability commitments are contractually embedded, regulatory disclosures are accurate and aligned particularly with CSRD and Swiss transparency and due diligence laws, and that sustainability risks are integrated into enterprise governance. PMI’s leadership in sustainability has been widely recognised. PMI has been recognised by leading ESG ratings agencies and sustainability organisations.

In March 2024, PMI was included in CDP’s Supplier Engagement Leaderboard for the seventh consecutive year, distinguishing PMI as a global leader for engaging with suppliers on climate change and recognising the effort put toward bringing suppliers along PMI’s decarbonisation journey. In 2023, Forbes included the company in its first-ever list of Net Zero Leaders and has been listed in 2025 for the third consecutive year.

Legal helps sustain this performance by partnering across functions to turn commitments into measurable, reportable action—and ensuring they withstand external scrutiny. In a highly volatile regulatory environment, anticipating sustainability regulations and assessing their potential impact on our company is key not only for ensuring compliance preparedness but also from a competitive edge.