The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has named Dr. Brian A. King as new Director for its Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). Dr. King takes over for Michele Mital, who had been serving as Acting Director since Dr. Mitch Zeller retired earlier this year.

In a statement on Twitter, Dr. Robert Califf FDA Commissioner, comments, “After a robust executive search, I have selected Dr. Brian A. King as FDA’s new Center for Tobacco Products Director. Dr. King brings extensive and impressive expertise in tobacco prevention and control and has broad familiarity with FDA from his more than 10-year tenure at CDC. I look forward to Dr. King joining the FDA team and helping to lead CTP to the next level in effective and smart tobacco product regulation. We have a lot to do!”

The FDA Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) is responsible for carrying out the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which Congress passed in 2009. In particular, this is the group responsible for coming up with the regulations on premium cigars in the Deeming Rule.