Appointments at Kretek

Kretek International, a U.S. importer, marketer and distributor of specialty tobacco products, has announced new appointments to its sales team

Patrick Hurd has been promoted to chief sales officer. A nearly 20-year Kretek veteran , Hurd brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record for aligning products and goals, teams and strategies from his previous positions at the company, which include general manager for Kretek Canada, general manager for Ventura Cigar Company and most recently, vice president of sales for Kretek US.

John Tirpak will assume the title of vice president of sales. Having worked within the Premium Cigar industry for more than 23 years, Tirpak most recently held the title director of sales at Kretek International. Prior to that, he was director of sales for Kretek subsidiary Ventura Cigar Co.

Sean Teninty has been promoted to vice president of sales strategy from his previous position as senior director of sales strategy at Kretek International. He has been with Kretek for more than five years, helping to transform Kretek’s business analytics and business planning, and creating channel-specific strategies.

“We are excited for what these appointments mean for the future of Kretek,” says Mark Cassar, CEO of Kretek International. “We’ve put together a team that offers a well-rounded perspective of our business, and a strong understanding of our customers. We are investing in our people, our products, and our processes, which will position Kretek for continued success in today’s ultra-competitive marketplace.”