Oleksandr Farkosh has been appointed General Director of JTI Ukraine. He replaces Svitlana Sharomok, who has headed the Ukrainian office since 2022 and is moving to a new role within the company. Svitlana Sharomok will take up the position of General Director of JTI Ireland.
Alexander Farkosh has extensive management experience in Ukraine and international markets. Prior to his appointment in Ukraine, he headed JTI Hungary. His professional expertise is based on more than 24 years of work at JTI and previous experience in the management sector, focusing on country-level business management, strategic planning, and organizational efficiency improvement.
Throughout his career at JTI, Alexander has held leadership positions related to commercial strategy development and implementation, partnership development, team management, and coordination of decisions between key functions—sales and marketing, supply chain, and research and development. The international dimension of his experience is reinforced by his work at JTI headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and management roles in other markets, including Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
Commenting on the appointment, Alexander Farkosh said: “It is a great honor and responsibility for me to lead the JTI Ukraine team during what remains an extremely difficult period for the country. Svitlana Sharomok and the team have gone through the most difficult years since the start of the full-scale war, maintaining business stability, humanity, and responsibility towards employees and communities. I will bring all my experience and knowledge to continue this course, strengthen our effectiveness, and further develop the company in Ukraine, my home country.”
Oleksandr graduated from Lviv Trade and Economic University with a degree in international economic relations and completed additional management programs at international training centers in the UK and Switzerland.
About JTI Ukraine
JTI Ukraine is part of Japan Tobacco International (headquartered in Geneva), the international tobacco business of the Japan Tobacco group of companies (headquartered in Tokyo). Since 1999, the company has been one of the leading manufacturers of tobacco products in Ukraine, employing over 800 people at its central office in Kyiv, regional offices, and factory in Kremenchuk. JTI Ukraine manufactures products for both the domestic market and for export to nine countries around the world. In 2024, the company introduced the innovative Ploom ecosystem to the Ukrainian market in the category of tobacco products for electric heating (TPEH).
Over 26 years of operation, approximately $440 million has been invested in the country’s economy, with an additional $60 million in investments planned for 2024–2026. The company actively implements social initiatives aimed at supporting Ukrainians during the war, developing an inclusive corporate culture, and strengthening local communities. The company is a signatory to the principles of veteran-friendly business. JTI Ukraine is among the top 10 largest taxpayers to the state budget and the top 10 companies according to the Ukrainian Corporate Equality Index.
