Diana grew up near JTI Italy's offices in the popular Navigli district of Milan. Although this is her fourth job, she enjoys the friendly and open culture at JTI where she has been able to carve out her own niche beyond an assistant role. JTI Italy has offices in central Milan and faces challenges from regulation and economic conditions, but continues growing its market share. Diana recommends visitors to Milan start at the Duomo cathedral and explore the fashion boutiques, art museums, and restaurants of the city, especially the traditional fare and aperitivo of her home Navigli district.

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Diana, as she is known,
grewupinthepopularNavi-
gli district, which is very
close to JTI Italy’s offices.
She also studied tourism
in the Lombard capital, but
moved out of the city eight
yearsago,mainlyduetothe
high living costs in Milan,
and because she wanted
more space. “I’m pleased
to be back here for work,
just a stone’s throw from
where I grew up.”
Although JTI Italy is the
fourth company for which
Diana has worked in essentially the same position, she is par-
ticularly happy to have been able to carve out her very own niche
within the Company. “I can express myself here,” she says.
“We have a friendly, open culture, and are a ‘young’ company.
Employees are clearly selected based on the Company’s values,
making for a very positive atmosphere. As for my job, I’m not
‘only’ an assistant, but can also take the initiative, particularly with
regard to JTI’s cultural partnerships. These include supporting
Milan’s La Scala Theater Museum, the Venice Biennale, the Villa
Panza in Varese, the Auditorium in Rome, and the Ravello Music
Festival – and I’m very enthusiastic about all these engagements.”
A tough market
But back to JTI Italy in Milan: established in 1999, the Company
has 128 employees in its headquarters in Milan and a small
subsidiary in Rome with a staff of just five, working primarily in
institutional relations and communications. JTI’s principal brands
sold in Italy are Camel, Winston, Benson & Hedges, and Glamour.
Alreadyhighlyregulated,theItalianmarketfacesmanychallenges
due to a tough economic environment: down trading, illicit trade
growth and changes in consumer behavior. Despite this JTI is
still growing its share of market in Italy with the objective to
consolidate its recently gained N°2 position (Nielsen – July 2013).
This is no mean feat and keeps everyone busy in this enthusiastic
and committed team.
JTI Italy’s offices are in the Colonne di San Lorenzo district, in a
limited traffic zone. “Although I live on the outskirts, the office
is easily accessible by public transport. We’re right near the Via
Torino, which is a great place for eating out. We do have a lunch
area,butmostofusenjoygoingouttooneofthemanypizzeriasor
sandwichbarsnearby.AlmostallJTIemployeescomeintoworkby
train and on the Metropolitana underground system, which works
very efficiently – unless there’s a strike,” Diana adds wryly. “Like
any big city, Milan has its downsides – the smog and the terrible
traffic, which can so easily come to a standstill… All the same, it
offers many advantages. Without being particularly beautiful, it is
an excellent place to work and one of Italy’s best-organized cities.
The ‘Milano a piedi’ campaign, whereby the city is occasionally
accessible only to pedestrians and cyclists, is a great idea. I enjoy
feeling the frenetic pace of the city slow down a little.
For Corporate Affairs & Communications
Assistant Dianora Tiana, joining JTI Italy’s
Milan office just over two years ago was
almost like coming home. Here she takes us
on a personal tour of her city.
Dianora Tiana, Corporate Affairs &
Communications Assistant
JTI Cities
Always the greatest
Milan

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Great fashion, great art
“I would recommend any visitor to start their trip from the
Piazza del Duomo in front of Milan’s cathedral, surely its most
important landmark. This gothic building is one of the four
largest churches in Europe, and well worth a visit. From the
roof you have a fantastic view of the whole city. Coming out of
the cathedral, turn right into the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II,
a spectacular shopping arcade named after one of the kings of
Italy. Several major Italian labels, such as Prada and Borsalino,
have boutiques there. On the other side is the world-famous
La Scala opera house. Alternatively, you can double back and
walk down the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, past the chic Rina-
scente department store towards the Piazza San Babila; the
street is dotted with affordable chain stores like Zara, although
there are still also some small, traditional boutiques. Slightly
further out, the Corso Venezia is a popular, inexpensive shop-
ping area.
“But the real ‘center’ is around La Scala: the smartest bou-
tiques are to be found in Via Montenapoleone, Via Verri, Via
Manzoni, and – most exclusive of all – Via della Spiga.
“Walk behind the opera house to the ancient Brera district,
Milan’s artistic quarter, which is home to the Accademia delle
Belle Arti (Academy of Fine Arts) and the Pinacoteca di Brera.
This art museum houses a celebrated collection of paintings,
particularly of the Venetian and Lombard schools. Nearby are
the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Museo Vin-
ciano – Leonardo da Vinci painted his great Cenacolo (The Last
Supper) mural on the walls of the Refectory. I would advise
anyone wishing to see it to book their tickets online – there
are interminable queues… But Brera is also simply a charming
part of town that offers a wide variety of restaurants and bars.
Hearty fare
“Obviously, my favorite district is the Navigli. It’s crisscrossed with
bridges over the canals, which were originally dug to transport
stone for building the cathedral. It’s very popular with young
people, especially for the ‘aperitivo.’” This isn’t what most of us
would assume. In northern Italy, for the price of a drink, visitors to
bars can also help themselves to generous portions of antipasti,
sandwiches, and even pasta. “I’m particularly fond of the Osteria
del Pallone in Viale Gorizia. This traditional trattoria was one of the
first places that offered a television for guests to watch football
matches, now so typical of Italian bars and restaurants (hence
the name – pallone means ball). The food is traditional Milanese
fare–andlikeeverywhereelseinItaly,Milanhasitsfamousdishes.
Die-hardMilaneseswearbycassoeula,averyheavy,stew-likedish
consisting of various pork cuts mixed with vegetables such as
cabbage, but my favorite is risotto alla milanese con ossobuco…
“All in all, I can say that my native city is a wonderful place to be.
Quite simply, as they say in Lombard dialect, ‘Milan l’è semper un
gran Milan’ – Milan will always be the greatest.”
Established: 1999
Total employees: 133
Market position: N°2 (Nielsen – July 2013)
Main JTI Brands: Camel, Winston,
Benson & Hedges, Glamour
JTI Italy
JTI Cities