Philip Morris Japan Commercial Leadership Program Seminar & Networking Event: 3rd Edition

On 2nd April 2025, Robert Walters Japan co-hosted the third edition of the Philip Morris Commercial Leadership Program Seminar & Networking Event, where we were joined by 20 guests who were keen to learn more about the program and culture. Mari Takayanagi, Manager of the P&C Commercial Business Partner function, kicked off the event with insights into their business and program.

About Philip Morris Japan

Philip Morris started selling cigarettes in Japan in 1950 through a Japanese trading company and established their Japan office in 1981. They have more than 1,600 employees (1,200 in field sales) across offices in Tokyo and Osaka. In 2014, PMJ became the first affiliate to launch IQOS, establishing the heat-not-burn category in the tobacco industry as part of their "smoke-free future" vision. They have received multiple accolades including Equal Salary, Top Employer (for five consecutive years) and Great Place to Work.

Phillip Morris Japan’s Vision

PMJ is working toward a "smoke-free future" by transforming from conventional cigarettes to heat-not-burn products like IQOS. When IQOS launched in 2014, 100% of revenue came from conventional cigarettes. Today, the goal is for most of their revenue to come from smoke-free products.

About the Commercial Leadership Program (CLP)

Launched in 2023, the CLP is a two-year program designed to develop diverse future leaders in commercial areas. The program provides exposure to senior management (Japan, regional, and global), development opportunities, global training and rotation through commercial functions. Five participants, which were all selected based on their potential to contribute to PMJ’s strategic goals, have joined since the launch, rotating through departments including commercial operations, marketing, digital and consumer experience.

Highlights From the Panel Discussion

For the panel discussion, Mari invited onto the stage Daniel Sevcik (Portfolio Marketing Director and CLP supervisor), Yuji Machida (Brand Retail Manager and CLP member) and Yuki Tashiro (Consumer Experience Retention Manager). Here were some of the key takeaways:

• Each participant’s journey during the CLP is highly customised, aiming to find the right fit based on business needs, the individual's strengths and their career prospects.
• Global exposure is significant, with participants traveling to countries like Switzerland, Egypt and Portugal within their first year.
• The program provides visibility to senior management and opportunities to lead projects.
• CLP participants are expected to bring fresh perspectives and challenge existing ways of working.

Company Culture

Panelists described PMJ's culture as diverse (40+ nationalities), vibrant and open to new ideas. English is the primary language for business. The company encourages mobility, with employees frequently moving between functions and locations to develop new skills. There is also a focus on talent development, with managers actively creating long-term career plans for employees based on their aspirations and skill gaps.

If you are interested in PMJ and the CLP, please reach out to us at info@robertwalters.co.jp.

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