Imperial Brands Global Duty Free & Export has announced two key appointments to its managerial team.
Christian Münstermann has been named as new General Manager Global Duty Free & Export, replacing Jorge Arias (who becomes Cluster General Manager – Central Europe & Ukraine).
Münstermann joined Imperial in 2012 from Reckitt Benckiser as Global Duty Free Trade Marketing Director. He has more than 20 years of experience with fast-moving consumer goods companies such as Grand Metropolitan Foods, Campbell’s Soup Company and Hero.
Giannos Zompolas has been appointed as Head of Finance Global Duty Free & Export, replacing Andy Heley who is leaving the business at the end of September. Zompolas was previously Finance Manager Middle East region for Imperial Brands’ duty free business, having joined the company in 2012. He moved to the duty free team in 2014.
Münstermann and Zompolas join Tobias Baude on the duty free managerial team. Baude is Head of Corporate & Legal Affairs Global Duty Free & Export. He is responsible for external affairs as well as overseeing regulatory changes, legal and compliance.
The new management team will conduct Imperial’s duty free operations from a new base in Madrid.
“I am thrilled to continue working with Tobias and Giannos to lead Imperial Brands Global Duty Free & Export business into a new and positive future,” said Münstermann. “We have been very successful and achieved a lot in the last couple of years. This was only possible due to the great support of and cooperation with retailers, a strong portfolio of global and local brands and a very passionate team around the world.
“We’ll continue our focus on the tobacco category and at the same time build the very exciting category of new generation products in duty free.”
Zompolas commented: “I am looking forward to this new opportunity and what we as a team and a company can achieve within this exciting and dynamic global market.”
Baude added: “This is a challenging time for the tobacco market and an exciting opportunity as we see a new generation of products in duty free. It is vital to have a strong team and leadership for this key sector.”
