Turk Named Head of JT International Korea
By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter
JT International (JTI) Korea appointed Ali Yagiz as its new chief executive Monday, responsible for taking charge of the Korean subsidiary of the global tobacco company as of Jan. 1, 2009.
The 40-year-old joined JTI in 1995 and worked for the firm in Turkey, Switzerland and Canada before moving to Korea in 2006.
Since then, Yagiz has been a member of the management team in Korea, leading the outfit in portfolios, brands and strategy.
``As the fastest growing tobacco company in Korea over the last two years, our focus will be to continue providing world-class brands and services that Korean consumers are seeking and introduce new products to meet rapid changes in consumer demand,'' Yagiz said in a statement.
``We will also continue to contribute to society through a diverse set of programs throughout the year,'' he said.
JTI, the affiliate of the world's No. 3 cigarettes maker, Japan Tobacco, is famous for such brands as Mild Seven and Camel.
In Korea, JTI sells Mild Seven and Salem, accounting for about five percent of the market.