Torsten Albig Joins Philip Morris as Head of External Affairs

In recent news, according to German news website tagesschau, German politician Torsten Albig has joined Philip Morris International (PMI) and will be leading the external affairs department of its subsidiary in Germany.

Joining the Tobacco Industry amid Controversy

Albig served as Mayor of Kiel, Germany from 2009 to 2012, and later served as the Governor of Schleswig-Holstein for six years. He subsequently retired from politics and assumed the role of Representative Office Director at Deutsche Post DHL Group. In 2021, he joined the Association of German Postal Industry.

In this announcement of joining Philip Morris International (PMI) Germany, he expressed his goal to support the company's transformation from a traditional tobacco manufacturer to a provider of reduced-risk products.

He mentioned IQOS, the heated non-burning tobacco product that PMI is vigorously promoting, despite its limited market share. He believes that if adult smokers switch to these products, there is potential to lower health risks. However, he also emphasizes that the best method is always to quit smoking.

Promoting the Growth of Heated Tobacco Products

Albig advocates for adopting alternative approaches to tackle smoking issues, including increased information campaigns. He points out that in Italy and Japan, reduced-risk tobacco products have a much larger market share compared to Germany. He also mentions Sweden, where smoking rates are low and nasal snuff products are popular.

In the German market, British American Tobacco (BAT) competes with PMI through its Glo brand. These products are controversial. On one hand, some argue that they are relatively less harmful. Unlike traditional cigarettes, they do not burn tobacco. However, on the other hand, organizations such as the German Cancer Research Center warn about the health risks. Due to a lack of long-term studies, the exact consequences remain unclear.

The Integration of Politics and Business

The move of political figures to large corporations or associations has long been a matter of great interest in Germany.

Albig's decision to join the tobacco company is not an isolated incident.

Matthias Wissmann, a former Minister of Transport in the 1990s, served as the President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry from 2007 to 2018, making him a prominent automotive lobbyist. Eckart von Klaeden, a former State Minister in the Chancellor's Office, became the chief lobbyist for the automotive giant Daimler in 2013. Sigmar Gabriel, a former Vice-Chancellor from the Social Democratic Party, provides consulting services for the controversial meat company Tönnies. Matthias Berninger, a former Green Party member of the Federal Parliament, now works at the agricultural chemical company Bayer.