VIA GRAPHIC PLUS — Philip Morris International’s global business services hub in the country, PMI Business Solutions (PMIBS) Philippines, Inc., celebrated its fifth anniversary on Monday, September 14, 2026, marking the milestone with the unveiling of a brand-new expansion site at 8 Rockwell in Makati City.
The new facility underscores PMIBS’ continued growth as a core global business services hub with more than 80 new positions, reinforcing confidence in the Philippines as a destination for high-value global services and foreign investment.
Operating alongside its affiliate PMFTC Inc. under the umbrella of Philip Morris Philippines, PMIBS marked the milestone with company leaders and industry partners under the theme “Rooted and Rising,” reflecting the hub’s strong foundation in the country and its ambition to deliver greater value to PMI markets worldwide.
The expansion sets the tone for PMIBS’ next phase of growth: strengthening innovation through advanced artificial intelligence (AI), upgraded infrastructure, and the continued development of worldclass Filipino talent.
“Today, Philip Morris International markets around the world get expertise, solutions, and insights coming out of Manila,” PMI Vice President of Global Business Services Edvinas Katilius said, noting that PMI looks at this capability center as a “strategic investment to build capability.”
For PMIBS President Harry Tan Jr., who recently returned to Manila after more than a decade in global leadership roles—most recently as general manager of HM Sampoerna in Indonesia, alongside executive postings in Switzerland, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia—the expansion reflects both a strategic shift toward higher-value impact and a deeply personal commitment to the local workforce.
“Having spent 13 years working abroad as a Filipino professional across PMI affiliates, I now have the privilege of bringing those experiences home, using what I learned outside the Philippines to help develop our people, create more opportunities, and show what Filipino talent can contribute on a global stage,” Tan said.
“But the achievement that makes me most proud is not the size of what we have built. It is how our people have grown with the business,” he added.
“When you invest in people, they create value far beyond expectations.” Highlighting the hub’s transition toward more complex, value-adding services, Tan added: “If the first five years were about building capability, the next five will be about helping our people create even greater value through AI. At the center of this future is still our people—their judgment, creativity, collaboration, and ability to turn technology into real business impact.”
Among the distinguished guests who joined the celebration were House Committee on Trade and Industry chair Rep. Maximo Y. Dalog Jr., Makati City Majority Floor Leader Councilor Dino Imperial, former Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) President and CEO Jack Madrid, and Board of Investments Philippines Director Ernesto C. Delos Reyes Jr.
“As the chairperson of the Committee on Trade and Industry, I look at PMIBS and see a stellar example of what makes the Filipino workforce globally competitive. … The business services sector is a vital engine of our national economy,” Dalog said.
“By consistently delivering high-value solutions, PMIBS has not only contributed to our economic growth, but has also elevated the Philippines’ status as a premier global business hub. Your success over the five years proves that when global vision meets Filipino talent, extraordinary things happen.”
“This milestone is not only a celebration of the company’s achievements, but also a testament to the power of strong collaboration between the private sector and our local government,” Binay said. “Makati remains committed to fostering a business environment where global companies can invest, expand, and thrive.”
“Makati has always valued its partnerships with the private sector. We recognize that a thriving business community helps not only create jobs, develop talent, support local economic activity, but contribute to the overall progress of our city. As your host city, we are happy to see the PMIBS continue to grow in Makati,” Imperial added.
Established in 2021, PMIBS has grown into a cornerstone of PMI’s global business services network. Today, 519 Manila-based professionals drive roughly 600 specialized services spanning finance, HR, IT, commercial operations, data analytics, supply chain, project management, and fleet services—supporting operations across 160 markets worldwide.
“Technology is one of the driving forces of the future,” said Katilius. “That is why we are focusing on creating more jobs related to technology and higher value-added services as we build a future-ready organization.”
Addressing the continued evolution of the workplace, Tan said the expansion aligns with the company’s “PMIBS 10X” agenda, which focuses on combining emerging digital capabilities with human expertise to scale excellence and create stronger business impact.
“With AI, we now have the opportunity to help our teams work smarter, build stronger capabilities, and take on more complex, highervalue work for PMI, while creating more meaningful opportunities for our people to grow,” Tan said.
The celebration also featured an afternoon industry AI hackathon at the 8 Rockwell Hub, bringing PMIBS’ forward-looking vision to life. The session gave local tech talent handson experience in applying generative and analytical tools to complex operational challenges.
Closing the celebration, PMFTC Inc. President Zhenya Ivanov emphasized the close partnership between PMFTC and PMIBS.
Ivanov also reinforced PMI’s longterm commitment to the Philippines, noting that PMIBS plays an integral role in supporting the company’s broader transformation and smoke-free future aspirations through operational excellence, digital capability, and Filipino talent.
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