Joana Branco appointed director of Tabaqueira factory in Portugal

Joana Branco has been appointed as the new director of the Tabaqueira factory in Albarraque, Sintra, marking the first time a woman has led the company’s industrial unit in Portugal.

Branco succeeds João Brígido, who was recently named director of the Philip Morris International (PMI) factory in Crespellano, Bologna, which is the group's largest production unit globally.

A biological engineering graduate from Instituto Superior Técnico, Branco has spent 13 years at Tabaqueira in various leadership roles. Her previous experience includes leading the planning department, managing logistics during the pandemic—for which she received the company’s Excellence Award in 2020—and directing the Environment, Health, and Safety department. Most recently, she served as Head of Production, overseeing more than 450 employees.

In her new role, Branco aims to strengthen the Albarraque plant's position within PMI’s global industrial network, focusing on export, innovation, and talent development.