KUALA LUMPUR: Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Malaysia has appointed Didier Ellena as its new managing director, effective Jan 5, 2026.
In a statement, JTI said Ellena brings more than 30 years of experience with the group, having held leadership roles in Hungary, the Adriatic region, Russia, France and Italy.
In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing JTI Malaysia’s overall business strategy and operations, with a continued focus on sustainable growth, regulatory compliance and responsible business practices.
He succeeds Juliana Mohd Yahaya who was appointed as JTI Malaysia managing director in October 2023.
“I am both honoured and excited to take on this role and to lead the JTI Malaysia team. Malaysia is a strategically important market to JTI and I look forward to working closely with our employees, partners and stakeholders to deliver long-term value while upholding the highest standards of integrity and responsibility,” Ellena said.
