Winfried Hinz, longtime managing director of the Mignot & De Block group, passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 15, aged 72.
During his 14-year tenure, Hinz contributed decisively to the success of the German smoking accessories business.
Among other milestones, he oversaw the 1997 sale of Gizeh to the Dutch Mignot & De Block group.
Hinz was a driving force behind the development of the enterprise, until his retirement in 2009. In addition, he was a strong advocate for the sector through the Verband der Zigarettenpapier verarbeitenden Industrie (an association of cigarette paper processing companies) and the European Rolling Paper Association.
In 2001, Hinz, together with company owner Marianne Mignot, laid the first stone for a new company office in Gummersbach-Windhagen, Germany. Since then, the staff at that location has doubled to 160 people.
“Gizeh, Mascotte and Marie are up to this day innovative and leading brands in the world of self-made enjoyment—a status they owe in part to the work of Winfried Hinz,” said Christian Hinz, who succeeded his father in the company’s management in 2009.