Roy MacLaren is back in the premium cigar industry. Today, Crux Cigars announced the industry veteran is their new Executive Vice President of Sales. The move is effective immediately and he will be at the Crux Cigars booth at the 2018 IPCPR Trade Show. “I have been watching the growth of Crux Cigars, and have […]
Cigar News: Villiger Cigars North America Promotes Hector Pires to National Sales Manager
William Cooper Cigar News No Comments News, People, Villiger
Rene Castañeda (left) and Hector Pires (right) Villiger Cigars North America has announced it has promoted Hector J. Pires to its National Sales Manager. Pires had previously been serving as the company’s South Eastern Territory Manager. The move was announced early this week and is effective immediately. Pires is originally from Caracas, Venezuela. He earned […]
Cigar News: PDR Cigars Names Richie Otero Director of Sales
William Cooper Cigar News No Comments News, PDR Cigars, People
PDR Cigars has a new Director of Sales. Today PDR has officially announced that industry veteran Richie Otero has assumed the position. Otero’s career in the cigar industry started in retail. He subsequently managed territories for Padilla Cigar Company and Caldwell Cigar Company before joining PDR Cigars in October 2017 as its Florida Territory Sales […]
Cigar News: Les Mann Named Executive Vice President of Sales at Quality Importers
William Cooper Cigar News No Comments Accessories, News, People, Quality Importers, Xikar
Quality Importers (QI) has a new Executive Vice President of Sales, and its a name familiar to many people in the cigar accessories segment of the business. Today, the Weston, Florida based company named longtime industry veteran Les Mann to the position. Mann is best known for his long tenure with Colibri. The move comes […]
Cigar News: Fratello Cigars Names Shannon Strang Director of Operations
William Cooper Cigar News No Comments Fratello Cigars, News, People
Fratello Cigars has named Shannon Strang its first Director of Operations. Strang is a Pittsburgh native who will have primary responsibilities including streamlining Fratello Cigars’ logistics, strengthening relationships with both customers and suppliers, financial management and business development. “I am beyond excited that Shannon accepted this position. Together, we plan to bring our customer […]
Cigar News: Luis Miguel Torres to Head Casa de Montecristo
William Cooper Cigar News No Comments Casa de Montecristo, News, People, Tabacalera USA
Luis Miguel Torres has been named head of Casa de Montecristo, the premium cigar retail arm of Tabacalera USA and its parent company Imperial Brands. He replaces Steve Lochan, who departed Casa de Montecristo back in April. Torres comes to Casa de Montecristo with twenty years experience in the cigar and retail industries. The past three […]
Cigar News: Hammer + Sickle Founder Eric Hanson Passes Away
William Cooper Cigar News 1 Comment Hammer and Sickle, News, People
Eric Hanson, best known to the cigar industry as the founder of Hammer + Sickle Cigars, passed away suddenly on Friday, June 8th. He was 45 years old. Hanson, who spent a decade in the beer distribution business, founded Klin Groupe LLC in 2008. He launched the Hammer + Sickle lifestyle brand. This began with […]
Cigar News: CAO Founder Cano Ozgener Passes Away
William Cooper Cigar News 2 Comments CAO, News, People
Cano Aret Ozgener, the man best known to the cigar industry as the founder of CAO Cigars, but also a man who was an engineer, businessman, artist, and philanthropist, has passed away. He died peacefully on June 9 at home surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer. Ozgener was an Armenian-Turk born in […]
Cigar News: Altria Announces Organizational Structure Changes and Names New Managing Director for Nat Sherman
William Cooper Cigar News 1 Comment Altria, Nat Sherman, News, People
Altria Group, the parent company of Nat Sherman, has announced a corporate restructuring. As a part of the new organizational structure, Nat Sherman will be a part of the new Core Tobacco Division and have a new Managing Director and General Manager in Dominik Meier. As a part of the new structure, Altria is establishing […]
Cigar News: Quesada Cigars Announces Major Executive Restructuring
William Cooper Cigar News 1 Comment News, People, Quesada
Quesada Cigars has announced a major restructuring of its executive team. Highlighting the changes are new hires to spearhead the sales and operations of Quesada Cigars and a restructuring of the roles for many of the members of the Quesada family. The big news is that Hostos Fernandez Quesada, who has been involved for many […]