Manuel Garcia, best known for his tenure as Vice President at Habanos S.A., has joined Villiger Cigars. The company has announced Garcia will join the Villiger International Handmade Cigar division. He will be based in Santo Domingo at the ABAM factory where all Dominican-made Villager products are produced.
Garcia spent 15 years as the Commercial Vice President of Habanos S.A., where he headed up sales and marketing. He had previously worked with Villiger Chairman Heinrich Villiger. Mr. Villiger commented in a press release, “I feel this to be an overdue reunion, as Manuel worked alongside me from 1991-1995 as the General Manager of 5th Avenue Products Trading (Exclusive Habanos- Distributor for Germany). We look forward to Manuel contributing immediately, as we continue to forge ahead with delivering the best possible products to our consumers.”
Left to Right: President of Villiger North America, Rene Castaneda, Master Blender Matias Maragoto, Manuel Garcia, and Managing Director Villiger North America Corp. Michael Blumendeller
Meanwhile Garcia added, “For me personally, it is incredible to join such a prestigious company as Villiger. It is also a pleasure to return to work actively in the fascinating world of the handmade cigars. Mr. Heinrich Villiger and I have known each other since 1990, when I started working with him at the 5th Avenue Products Trading. We worked there for 5 years together and after that, I was appointed as Commercial Vice President of Habanos. We continued to maintain a very close relationship, and because of that, I had the great opportunity to learn a lot about cigars and the business in general. Mr. Villiger is an exceptional man, very experienced, and extremely humane. I have great admiration for him.”
Photo Credits: Villiger Cigars
