Miroslaw Zielinski

This page was last edited on at

Miroslaw Zielinski was appointed Chief New Ventures Officer at Philip Morris International (PMI) in June 2019. His previous role, from January 2018, was President of Science and Innovation.1

On 30 April 2020, Zielinski announced he would take early retirement from PMI on 30 June 2020.2

Extensive Career in the Tobacco Industry

Zielinski joined PMI Poland in 1991 as a merchandiser and has held various leadership positions, including:1

  • President, Science & Innovation (2018 – 2019)
  • President, Reduced Risk Products (2015 – 2017)
  • President, Eastern Europe, Middle East Region and Africa Region, and PMI Duty Free (2010 – 2015)
  • President, Latin America and Canada (2003 – 2010)
  • Managing Director, Worldwide Duty Free (2002)
  • Managing Director of PMI’s Ukrainian affiliate (1999)

PMI Sponsorship Deal with Ferrari: ‘Mission Winnow’

In his capacity as President Science & Innovation, Zielinski was part of the company’s October 2018 unveiling of PMI and Scuderia Ferrari’s rebranded partnership, named ‘Mission Winnow’.3 PMI has sponsored Formula One company Ferrari since 1984, with the tobacco company’s flagship cigarette brand Marlboro being Ferrari’s title sponsor since 1997. Zielinski also launched the ‘Mission Winnow’ branding on Ducati motorcycles and riders’ uniforms at PMI’s Research and Development facility in Switzerland, at the start of the 2019 MotoGP season.4. PMI has been title sponsor of the Ducati team since 2003.

The ‘Mission Winnow’ launch followed PMI’s media campaign promoting the company’s new ‘commitment’ to design a smoke-free future.5 Zielinski told media that:

“Mission Winnow is about how we are transforming as a company, what we believe in and the way we work to enable a better future. Scuderia Ferrari is the ideal partner for Mission Winnow because of the team’s passion for innovation and drive to constantly improve in the quest for victory.”3

Zielinksi further stated that PMI launched Mission Winnow in the Formula One sport, “because motorsport fans understand there is no reverse gear in racing, only forward thinking and we believe they will want to share this vision.”3

TobaccoTactics Resources

Relevant Link

Philip Morris International website

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

References

  1. abPhilip Morris International, Who we are: Our leadership Team, PMI website, undated, accessed January 2020
  2. PHILIP MORRIS INTERNATIONAL INC.: Change in Directors or Principal Officers, Financial Statements and Exhibits (form 8-K), marketscreener.com, 1 May 2020, accessed July 2020
  3. abcPMI and Scuderia Ferrari Look to the Future with Mission Winnow A Shared Pursuit for Excellence and Innovation Drive Long-Running Partnership, Business Wire, 3 October 2018, accessed April 2019
  4. The 2019 Mission Winnow Ducati Team Presented at Neuchatel, Moto GP, 18 January 2019, accessed March 2019
  5. Philip Morris International, How long will PMI be in the cigarette business, 2018, accessed November 2018