Full Name: Branislav Bibic

Position and Company Name: Area VP for sub-Saharan Africa at Philip Morris International

Main Activity of the Company: Tobacco and nicotine products, including cigarettes and smoke-free products. Our smoke-free portfolio consists of our flagship heat-not-burn product, IQOS Iluma, and our oral nicotine pouch, ZYN. Our cigarette portfolio consists of Marlboro and Chesterfield, which we distribute domestically and export to markets in the region. Our affiliate, Leonard Dingler, manufactures tobacco products such as pipe tobacco and nasal snuff, as well as market-leading pipe tobacco brands Boxer and Best Blend

Date and Place of Birth: December 10, 1970, Zadar, Croatia

Education: MBA, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford; MA in European Studies, College of Europe; Master of Engineering, University of Zagreb

First Job: Sales representative for classical music concerts

Size of First Pay Packet: It was commission based, and I earned nothing in my first month

Career Path to Date: From early in my career in sales in Austria, I have progressed through diverse leadership roles in nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), government and business. My 17-year tenure at Philip Morris International culminated in senior executive positions, honing strategic thinking, global organisational leadership, commercial development and regulatory expertise

Number of People under Your Leadership: About 600 staff in sub-Saharan Africa

Management Style: Coaching, empowering and fostering independent thinking, autonomy and teamwork. However, I don’t hesitate to adopt a directive style when the situation demands it

Personal Best Achievement: Founding an NGO that aims to cultivate a democratic political culture and boasts a network of more than 500 young leaders across various sectors, including politics, government, business, media and civil society

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother and my wife. As a concentration camp survivor and a former child refugee, my mother instilled humility, hard work, discipline and tolerance in me

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Ante Cicin-Sain, a former ambassador and central bank governor. Although he held high-powered positions, he took the time to give back to the community and mentor young people

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Drago Azinovic, my former boss at Philip Morris International. He had a brilliant strategic mind, was a bold decision-maker and led teams with trust and autonomy

Philosophy of Life: I believe in being straightforward and forthright, valuing honesty and clear communication to build trust and strong relationships. I am driven by the innate need to positively influence the people I work with and to make broader societal impact

Biggest Ever Opportunity: My first GM position at Philip Morris International

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Witnessing a war in my 20s and realising the cruelty of humanity and what happens when systems fall apart

Hope for the Future: The complete transformation of the tobacco industry to a smoke-free future. It’s happening and it’s irreversible, and that excites me

Favourite Reading: Geopolitics – the latest book I read is The Power of Geography, by Tim Marshall

Favourite Food/Drink: Water is life

Favourite Music: Jazz

Favourite Sport: Running and swimming

Hobbies: Travelling

Car: Electric car

Pets: I have a labradoodle puppy named Mochi

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Bureaucracy and meanness

Married: Yes

Children: A 14-year-old son