Mr Giovanni CARUCCI

Giovanni Carucci is a senior executive and lobbyist affiliated with British American Tobacco (BAT), one of the world’s largest tobacco companies. He has held significant roles including Vice President and Head of European Affairs at BAT, based in Rome, Italy. His lobbying work primarily involves navigating European Union (EU) regulations affecting the tobacco industry, with a focus on influencing tobacco control policies, product regulations, and taxation measures. Carucci has been publicly noted for advocating BAT’s interests amidst tightening regulatory frameworks in European markets, promoting approaches aimed at balancing regulatory compliance with the company’s commercial objectives. His activities have included engaging with European politicians and regulatory bodies to shape legislation that affects tobacco products, with a nuanced approach balancing overt compliance and industry positioning aimed at securing favorable outcomes for BAT in the EU and other markets. Beyond public-facing roles, Carucci’s lobbying often involves strategic influence over tobacco taxation, anti-smuggling policies, and product packaging regulations, crucial for BAT’s operational environment in Europe.

Giovanni Carucci’s lobbying activities for British American Tobacco reflect a comprehensive strategy to protect and advance the company’s market interests within the regulatory and political landscape of the UK and broader Europe. BAT, as a giant in the tobacco industry, faces stringent regulatory scrutiny, evolving consumer protection laws, and increasing public health-driven restrictions, notably concerning product packaging, nicotine levels, and marketing practices. Carucci’s role involves actively influencing these regulatory developments to mitigate adverse impacts on BAT’s business. His lobbying efforts seek to promote a regulatory environment that allows BAT to introduce innovative products, such as reduced-risk tobacco alternatives, while complying with EU tobacco product directives and national laws. He advances BAT’s position on taxation policy to avoid punitive tax hikes that could incentivize illicit trade or reduce legal sales, arguing for balanced tax policies that sustain legitimate market operations. Moreover, Carucci engages with policymakers in the UK and EU to shape legislation on tobacco smuggling prevention, emphasizing enforcement over prohibition to protect BAT’s legal business interests. His lobbying also reveals a hidden dimension of pushing back against overly restrictive measures—for instance, graphic health warnings or flavor bans—that could negatively affect consumer choice and product appeal. By fostering relationships with key EU political figures and stakeholders, Carucci aims to influence regulatory timelines and interpretations to BAT’s advantage, ensuring compliance costs remain manageable and market access is preserved. His work also supports BAT’s corporate narrative of being part of the solution for public health through harm reduction, seeking legitimacy and a voice within policymaking circles that traditionally excluded tobacco firms. Overall, Giovanni Carucci’s lobbying orchestrates a blend of regulatory engagement, political relationship-building, and strategic communication to uphold British American Tobacco’s commercial and reputational interests within the UK and Europe.

Giovanni Carucci’s lobbying activities reveal a deeply embedded role in shaping EU tobacco regulations and broader political frameworks affecting British American Tobacco’s operations. As Vice President and Head of European Affairs, Carucci has been involved in discussions and meetings with EU Commissioners, members of the European Parliament, and national political leaders to discuss tobacco product directive implementation, taxation, and anti-smuggling policies. For instance, he has publicly commented on EU tobacco packaging laws, emphasizing the need for clear but manageable regulations, and urging timely implementation so companies can comply while mitigating operational disruptions. His meetings with European policymakers have coincided with key regulatory milestones, such as the Tobacco Products Directive revisions, indicating his influence in framing regulatory texts and deadlines. Carucci has often represented BAT at public consultations, industry forums, and dialogue platforms, presenting industry data to argue against excessive restrictions that could drive consumers to illicit products. He has also responded to proposals for plain packaging and graphic warnings, advocating for balanced measures that consider both public health and industry sustainability. Notably, his interactions with Italian government officials underscore efforts to gain support for BAT initiatives, while he has worked to shape EU-wide policies encompassing multiple member states, including the UK pre- and post-Brexit. These lobbying activities involve both overt public communication and behind-the-scenes advocacy aimed at ensuring BAT’s products remain competitive, accessible, and aligned with evolving legal frameworks. His efforts have contributed to regulatory outcomes that reflect a compromise between public health goals and commercial viability, such as phased implementation periods and specific exemptions for novel tobacco products. Through these sustained lobbying engagements, Carucci plays a pivotal role in advancing the client’s interests by steering policy development processes within the EU’s complex legislative environment.

LinkedIn: Giovanni Carucci (profile based in Rome, Italy)
No publicly available direct phone number or personal email for Giovanni Carucci
British American Tobacco Corporate Website (for general contact and corporate communications): https://www.bat.com
BAT European Affairs Office (via corporate website or official filings)