Paul Blair

Paul Blair is the regional director of external affairs for Philip Morris International in the United States. In this role, Blair oversees state government affairs, third party and public policy engagement in support of PMI’s current and future portfolio of smoke-free products in the American Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. He began his career at Americans for Tax Reform, a Washington, D.C.based public policy organization where he oversaw a portfolio of lobbying, coalitions and advocacy work in the tobacco harm reduction space for nearly a decade. Immediately prior to joining PMI, Blair led state and federal government affairs for Turning Point Brands, a U.S. manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of products such as Stoker’s smokeless tobacco and the iconic Zig-Zag brand. He has served on the boards of the National Association of Tobacco Outlets, the Tobacco Merchants Association, and the U.S. Hemp Roundtable. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.