Michael Giannini has been promoted to General Manager at Ventura Cigar Company. The move comes just six months after Giannini joined Ventura as its Creative Director. In addition to taking on new responsibilities as General Manager, Giannini will also continue his role as Creative Director. His General Manager responsibilities will have both the sales and […]
The Texas market is important to most brands in the cigar industry, and Marrero Cigars is targeting it. This the company announced it has named Tony Gomez as its Regional Sales Representative for the Dallas market. “I am honored to embark on an exciting new chapter in my career in the cigar industry. Many of […]
Fabian Barrantes has departed IndianHead Cigars, and Elvis Batista is now the company’s Director of Sales. IndianHead Cigars is owned by Jochy Blanco. IndianHead is the company that is best known to those in the premium cigar business that handles Blanco’s La Galera cigar brand. Batista most recently has served as the Key Account Manager […]
It’s not a return to the cigar industry, but former Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard has formed a new business consulting company known as Hoejsgaard & Co. It’s a company that helps both corporations and family-owned companies in both brand equity and brand building – with a particular focus on luxury and premium brands. Hoejsgaard […]
Gurkha Cigars has announced that Shanda Lee is the company’s new Director of Marketing. Lee has over 25 years experience in marketing. She is best known for her time at J.C. Newman Cigar Company, where she was an officer and served as both part of the product development team and was responsible for developing the […]
Earlier this month, Maya Selva Cigars appointed Jean François Poillot to be its new U.S. Sales Manager. Previously, Poillot spent several years in Paris managing sales for Maya Selva Cigars. Maya Selva Cigars was founded in 1995 by Maya Selva. The company has been successful in Europe for over two decades. A few years ago, […]
Jim Young, President of Davidoff North America, will take on an expanded role. Today parent company Oettinger Davidoff AG named Young to the newly created position of Chief Commercial Officer. According to Davidoff, the goal will be “to help drive sales excellence and share best practices across all markets.” Young will report to Beat Hauenstein, […]
AJ Fernandez Cigar Company has announced that Starky Arias will be its new marketing director. Arias will assume the position effective March 1st, 2018. Arias has experience as a creative director for many cigar brands, and its best known for his work at Cigar Rings – which is a company that does cigar band and […]
On Friday January 26th, 2018 I was informed of the death of my co-host on the Smooth Draws Radio Show, Gary “Doc” Laden. It was a very tough day. I personally want to thank everyone for the kind words, and ask everyone to keep Gary’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time Gary […]
Gary”Doc” Laden, founder and host of the Smooth Draws Radio Show passed away in Atlanta, Georgia at 4:10 am this morning. A medical doctor by trade, in 2015 Doc took his love of cigars and the cigar lifestyle and co-founded a radio show called Cigar Guys Radio. In 2016, the show was rebranded the Smooth […]
