“The sincere efforts of Moroccans to help you, support you and make you feel at home are what has struck me the most.”
His story with Philip Morris International began nearly 20 years ago. From the field to the senior responsibilities he holds today, Taylan Süer, Managing Director of the Maghreb Region (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya), has worked in 6 countries, with the aim of continuing to take on new challenges, meet new stakeholders and new organisations, and encounter new cultures. He remembers his first steps at Philip Morris International (PMI): “I started my professional career in the field, which allowed me to get to know consumers well. However, I always wanted a career in marketing. So, for several years, I held brand management positions. Holding this position taught me how to develop consumer-centred thinking and to progress in the consumer goods industry while keeping the consumer at the heart of my strategies and decisions.”
A “smoke-free future”, a commitment for PMI
Since taking office as Managing Director of PMI Maghreb in February 2023, Taylan Süer highlights the opportunities and challenges in carrying out his mission in a region that is as challenging as it is exciting. “For our company, it is a matter of accelerating the implementation of our vision of a smoke-free future, by replacing cigarettes with smoke-free, reduced-risk products developed on a scientific basis.”. In addition, the external environment, which he considers dynamic, is an important factor to take into account. He specifies: “we must be resilient and flexible to cope with all kinds of challenges and volatile situations.” To do this, Taylan Süer can count on competent and committed human capital for the smooth running of PMI. “My objective is to unite my teams behind our project of building a smoke-free future in the Maghreb, but also to position the cluster well on a global scale while offering every employee the opportunity to grow and flourish throughout their career at regional and international level.”
Enlightened leadership in the face of adversity
Taylan Süer, who held the position of Managing Director of the Lebanese market before taking up his current post, has faced situations in which his leadership has shown him the way. “During my time in Lebanon, the country was going through a major crisis: political, economic, social, and on top of that came the port explosion and COVID… It was a very difficult period for the country and for the teams.”, he recalls. And he adds: “In this experience, leadership was paramount to maintain cohesion within the organisation despite all the adversity of the country’s external environment, so that people would feel proud of their achievements, and to ensure their safety in those difficult times”.
Taylan Süer speaks of the importance of decision-making and the values that guide a leader, lessons drawn, among other things, from his reading and more particularly from the book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins, based on professional will and personal humility. “When I make decisions, I base them on as much data and information as I can get. On that basis, I show resilience to achieve the expected results. But it is just as important to show empathy and understanding and to remain open to all opinions”, he explains. For him, it is therefore not only a matter of creating an environment, but also of ensuring that people are heard and included in the decision-making process.
A necessary balance between private and professional life
As a child he dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player and, having played in a semi-professional league, he continues to attach just as much importance to sport. “It is not only about physical health but also about mental health. Sport allows me to keep a balance in my life”. Looking back on his expatriate journey, Taylan Süer, who is originally from Turkey, did not fail to praise Moroccan hospitality. “I come from a culture that is close, since I am originally from Turkey, but the sincere efforts of Moroccans to help you, support you and make you feel at home are what has struck me the most. The country is very fascinating for its landscape, its culture and its gastronomy, but above all for the generosity of its citizens.”
For the future, Taylan Süer has already set himself the challenge of continuing to carry and implement the “smoke-free future” strategy and is counting on the most precious resource, time, which he could devote to having a positive impact on his surroundings. “In the future, I would like to focus on sustainable development projects, but also to support the development of young leaders, whether in a professional or university context, by giving lectures at business schools; this corresponds to my values and my motivations”, he concludes.
If you were…
– A colour, which one would you be? The colour red, because it is very energising
– A country, which one would you be? Turkey
– A personality…? Michael Jordan
– An animal…? The lion
– A connected object? AirPods
– A superpower? The ability to travel through time.
– A book…? Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari