Laurent Huber is the Executive Director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and a recognized leader in tobacco control.

He joined ASH in 2000 at a time when the organization, as a response to the increased global tobacco epidemic, decided to engage in global solutions to reduce the death, disease and economic losses caused by tobacco.

While at ASH, he directed an international coalition of over 350 non-governmental organizations from more than 100 countries. This international coalition has been widely recognized by governments, non-governmental organizations and the World Health Organization (WHO) for its vital role in shaping the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the first global public health treaty negotiated under the auspices of the WHO. Laurent also helped ensure that tobacco was addressed in other international public health initiatives including the United Nations High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases.

Laurent has played an influential role in tobacco control for over ten years reaching out to advocates and policymakers around the world. A natural coalition builder, he has had a major impact in the international health and tobacco control movement.

Laurent holds a master’s of science degree with a focus on exercise physiology research and before beginning to work full time in tobacco control in 2000, he directed a number of nonprofit organizations where he helped develop and implement non communicable disease prevention programs for at-risk and native populations.

Fluent in four languages, Laurent has been a presenter on public health and tobacco control policy at events for advocates and legislators as well as at conferences and academic institutions around the world. Laurent serves on a number of panels and advisory boards at academic institutions and corporations as well as intergovernmental organizations that address healthy policy matters such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization.

For his efforts in health and international tobacco control, Laurent received the American Lung Association- C. Everett Koop Foundation award in 2005. In addition, under his leadership, the alliances he directed received the prestigious Luther Terry award in 2006, the Premio SEDET in 2008 and the WHO World No Tobacco Day award in 2011.