Sven Löhr Appointed as New Managing Director of British American Tobacco Austria GmbH, Plans to Lead Company's Smoke-Free Strategy to Reduce Smoking Rates in Austria to 5% by 2040

Sep.03.2025
Sven Löhr Appointed as New Managing Director of British American Tobacco Austria GmbH, Plans to Lead Company's Smoke-Free Strategy to Reduce Smoking Rates in Austria to 5% by 2040
Sven Löhr appointed as new Managing Director of British American Tobacco Austria, focusing on smoke-free future and market leadership.

Key Points:

 

·New Managing Director: Sven Löhr will take over as Managing Director of British American Tobacco (BAT) Austria on September 1, 2025.

·Extensive Experience: Löhr has been with BAT since 2009, holding various management positions in Germany.

·Smoke-Free Strategy: Löhr will be responsible for implementing the global corporate strategy “A Better Tomorrow™ – Building a Smoke-Free World” in the Austrian market.

·Market Leadership: BAT holds a leading position in the Austrian nicotine pouch market with its Velo brand and a strong share in the e-cigarette market with the Vuse brand.

·Future Goals: Löhr plans to expand the smoke-free product portfolio and collaborate with regulators to support the EU’s cancer plan, aiming to reduce the proportion of smokers in Austria from 20% to 5%.

 


 

2Firsts, September 3, 2025 - According to ots on September 1, Sven Löhr took over as the Managing Director of British American Tobacco's (BAT) Austria subsidiary. He was born in Hamburg and has been working at the company since 2009, holding various management positions in Germany over the past 16 years, most recently as Head of Trade Marketing and Distribution.

 

Sven Löhr Appointed as New Managing Director of British American Tobacco Austria GmbH, Plans to Lead Company's Smoke-Free Strategy to Reduce Smoking Rates in Austria to 5% by 2040
Sven Löhr | Image source: ots

 

Sven Löhr has extensive experience in sales, marketing, and brand management. In his new position, he will be responsible for implementing the global corporate strategy of "A Better Tomorrow™ - Building a Smoke-Free World" in the Austrian market.

 

One of Sven Löhr's key goals is to continuously increase the share of non-combustible products, thus driving the transformation of British American Tobacco towards a smoke-free future: "In Austria, we will actively shape the path to a smoke-free future by continuously expanding our portfolio of smoke-free products and strategic partnerships with tobacco retailers and regulatory agencies.

 

British American Tobacco has become the leader in the Austrian nicotine pouch e-cigarette market with its VELO brand, and holds a strong market share with one of the world's leading e-cigarette brands, Vuse.

 

For Sven Löhr, the "Austrian mission" is very clear: "We hope to strategically expand our market strength in a targeted manner and make sustainable contributions to the implementation of corporate strategy. At the same time, we aim to support the goals of the EU Cancer Plan, which aims to reduce Austria's smoking rate from the current 20% to 5% by 2040. However, this requires a clear and reliable legal framework based on the principle of risk reduction - avoiding excessive regulation at the national level and not adding extra layers of bureaucracy beyond EU directives.

 

British American Tobacco Austria sincerely thanks Aziz Aliev for his excellent work. Under his leadership, the nicotine pouch brand VELO has further solidified its market leadership position in Austria and set important strategic directions for the future. The British American Tobacco Austria team wishes him every success in his new role as Head of Insights and Outlook for the Southeast Europe region.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Michigan Senate Bill 786 Seeks to Ban Sale of Vapes With Metal Heating Elements
Michigan Senate Bill 786 Seeks to Ban Sale of Vapes With Metal Heating Elements
Michigan lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 786 on February 18, 2026, proposing to prohibit the sale or transfer of vapor products that contain heating elements unless those elements are made of or encased in glass or ceramic materials
Regulations
Feb.21
IQOS Japan launches three ILUMA i custom bundle sets with leather wrap and premium ring accessories, on sale from Jan 29
IQOS Japan launches three ILUMA i custom bundle sets with leather wrap and premium ring accessories, on sale from Jan 29
According to IQOS Japan’s official website, the company has introduced three custom bundle sets for its IQOS ILUMA i lineup, combining devices with accessories as bundled offerings, and began rolling them out across multiple sales channels from Jan. 29.
Jan.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Thailand’s Bangkok Police Bust Two Warehouses, Seize Over 100,000 Heated-Tobacco Items Worth $960,000
Thailand’s Bangkok Police Bust Two Warehouses, Seize Over 100,000 Heated-Tobacco Items Worth $960,000
Bangkok police said they raided two warehouse locations linked to an online distribution network for illicit vaping/heated-tobacco products, seizing IQOS ILUMA i devices and large quantities of TEREA sticks worth more than 30 million baht (about US$960,000). Three suspects described as administrators and caretakers were arrested, while investigators probe suspected smuggling routes and unpaid excise liabilities.
Feb.02 by 2FIRSTS.ai
PMI Flags 2026 Headwinds from Japan Taxes, Sees Smoke-Free Growth Re-Accelerating Beyond in Earnings Call
PMI Flags 2026 Headwinds from Japan Taxes, Sees Smoke-Free Growth Re-Accelerating Beyond in Earnings Call
PMI said on its latest earnings call that Japan’s tax cycle will weigh on 2026 performance, while smoke-free growth is expected to re-accelerate thereafter. The discussion also covered U.S. regulation, ZYN strategy and AI-driven efficiency.
Feb.07
Netherlands plans to raise nicotine purchase age to 21, including vapes
Netherlands plans to raise nicotine purchase age to 21, including vapes
The Netherlands is planning to raise the legal age for buying nicotine-containing products from 18 to 21, a change that would also cover vapes. The move, embedded in the governing coalition’s latest agreement, aligns with a wider European trend toward tighter youth nicotine controls, though industry groups have criticised the proposal and warned it could fuel illicit trade.
Feb.09 by 2FIRSTS.ai
From Tamarind’s AI Shift to Industry Restructuring, The ‘Amazon Moment’ for Nicotine Is Approaching
From Tamarind’s AI Shift to Industry Restructuring, The ‘Amazon Moment’ for Nicotine Is Approaching
Tamarind Intelligence’s decision to appoint a technology-sector executive as chief executive officer signals more than a leadership reshuffle at a specialist data firm. It reflects a broader structural shift across the global nicotine industry, where companies, regulators and intelligence providers are embedding artificial intelligence into core operations.
Special Report
Feb.18