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Philip Morris CCA is born, under the leadership of Alberto Recio as general director

Cluster of more than 30 markets will accelerate the end of cigarettes in the region

Philip Morris International (PMI) announces the formation of a new business cluster that consolidates the company’s efforts in Central America, the Caribbean and the Andean region to continue building a future free of smoke and accelerate the end of the cigarettes.

Under the name Philip Morris CCA, the multinational redoubles its commitment to the region, composed of more than 30 markets that mostly have at least one of the products of the PMI smokeless catalog, which maintains its commitment to stop selling cigarettes in the future.

As part of the new strategy, Colombian Alberto Recio has been designated as general director of Philip Morris CCA. The Executive will lead the development of smoke -free vision in each subregion, as well as the diversification of the smoke -free products portfolio in the different markets.

“With this consolidated structure, we have the opportunity to carry more and better smoke -free products to smokers who would otherwise continue to smoking cigarettes,” said Recio. “In this way, we will work more strategically to achieve our goals,” he added.

Globally, PMI has the mission of building a future cigarette future offering products with less risk exposure to adults who would otherwise maintain their consumption of cigarettes. These products include heated tobacco, nicotine bags and electronic cigarettes.

“We always emphasize that the best thing anyone can do is never smoking. If you smoke, you should leave it. But if you do not leave it you must have information and access to products with less risk exposure than to continue smoking,” said Philip Morris CCA general.

PMI smoke -free products are not risk -free, as they provide nicotine, but represent a lower health risk than to continue smoking.

122 million not on cigarettes

Only in the first six months of the year 2025 more than 122 million cigarettes did not turn on in the countries that make up the CCA cluster. This, thanks to the tobacco heating device, which heats tobacco instead of burning it, reducing risk exposure by 95%.

This is just an example of the great potential of the region in the construction of a smokeless future, especially with the introduction of more smokeless products, as the company is committed to offering different options that adapt to the needs of smokers.

The unification of Caribbean, Central America and the Andean region within the same cluster also provides the opportunity to share best practices and learning between markets, greater projection and growth opportunities for talent, and a more diverse culture.

As part of this new chapter in the construction of a smokeless future, Philip Morris International also announced the designation of Luis Lizarazo as commercial manager for Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua, and Andrea Orantes as a commercial manager for Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

“We have challenges and opportunities,” said Recio. “On the one hand, a great challenge is the growth of illicit trade and insecurity in Central America. On the other hand, we have the great opportunity to convince more and more smokers to quit smoking or go to smokeless products.”

Philip Morris CCA has its headquarters in Bogotá, Colombia, as well as local offices in each of the markets of the region in which it operates.

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