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Khyber Tobacco Company Nowshera Road, Mardan, KPK
Khyber Tobacco Company Nowshera Road, Mardan, KPK
Sameera Irfan Shaikh, CEO of Khyber Tobacco Company and the only female CEO in the global tobacco industry, has led the company to impressive growth through her expertise and dedication. With a background in HR, she has played a pivotal role in KTC’s success as Pakistan’s largest exporter among listed companies and an award-winning producer of high-quality tobacco products. Under her leadership, KTC has not only strengthened its nationwide distribution network but also contributed significantly to economic growth in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through public service initiatives. Ms. Sameera is committed to empowering her team and fostering leadership skills, ensuring KTC’s mission extends beyond business to positively impacting the community.
Hamad Jamil, COO of Khyber Tobacco Company, brings over 20 years of expertise to the fast-growing FMCG sector, driving the company’s success through acquisitions, joint ventures, and innovative operational practices. Under his leadership, KTC has developed its own retail audit and market intelligence systems, setting industry standards, while also expanding into international markets, particularly in combustible and non-combustible tobacco products like vapes. A strong advocate for a family-oriented workplace, Mr. Jamil fosters a collaborative environment and champions sustainability initiatives, such as transitioning to solar energy and planting over a million trees, alongside community welfare efforts like running a hospital and supporting education in tobacco-growing regions.
Fred Schiettecatte, Marketing Director for Khyber Tobacco, has thrived in his role over the past four years while residing in Pakistan with his family. Originally from France, he appreciates Pakistan’s vibrant culture and finds it an exciting place for both personal and professional growth. With 16 years of experience in the global tobacco industry, Fred brings extensive expertise to his role, focusing on tobacco at KTC while eagerly exploring new opportunities for innovation in the emerging market. He enjoys the challenges of the Pakistani market, where he sees room for creativity and growth, and is passionate about building a strong team to contribute to the company’s ambitious vision in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Sebastian Lammy, a dynamic trade marketing leader at Khyber Tobacco Company, has been making significant contributions for the past three years since relocating to Pakistan for a challenging opportunity. He has built the trade marketing department from the ground up, focusing on a qualitative strategy that enhances product availability and visibility beyond traditional sales metrics. By fostering a young, energetic team and improving retailer communication, Sebastian ensures consumers receive the best offers. His initiatives, including foundational trade marketing practices, have shown promising results, and he is committed to exploring innovative ways to connect with consumers and enhance brand presence, driving the company’s success and leaving a legacy of excellence.
Nehal Udugoda, with over 30 years of expertise in the tobacco industry, is the Blend Manager at Khyber Tobacco Company. He creates new blends using both local and imported tobaccos, conducting thorough chemical analyses and sensory evaluations. Udugoda specializes in Virginia, modified Virginia, and American blends, enhancing them with casings like glycerin and top flavors such as vanilla or fruity notes. His team develops prototypes based on market requests, testing cigarette designs, strengths, and flavors before full-scale production. Menthol and other additives are incorporated based on consumer preferences.
Pedro Field, a veteran of the tobacco industry with 34 years of industry experience, shares insights on tobacco types and curing processes. He distinguishes between big leaf and small leaf tobacco, highlighting big leaf types like Virginia flue-cured and Burley. Virginia is heat-cured for golden leaves with variable nicotine, while Burley is air-cured for a distinct, low-sugar flavor. He also discusses fire-cured tobacco, known for its smoky taste, and briefly touches on aromatic Oriental tobacco, often used to enhance blends.