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Category: Around the Industry

  • BAT Announces Management Board Changes

    BAT Announces Management Board Changes

    BAT today (September 11) announced upcoming changes to its management board. After 23 years with the group, including 11 as general counsel and board member, Jerome Abelman will step down as Director, Legal and General Counsel on effective December 31. Paul McCrory, currently Director, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, will become Director, Legal and General Counsel Designate on October 1 before assuming the role fully on January 1, 2026. McCrory has been with BAT for over 18 years and joined the board in 2023.

    From October 1, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs will transfer to Kingsley Wheaton, Chief Corporate Officer. CEO Tadeu Marroco thanked Abelman for his leadership and welcomed McCrory to his new role, citing his deep experience and collaborative leadership.

  • Dutch Schools Sound Alarm Over Dangerous Rise in Illegal THC Vapes

    Dutch Schools Sound Alarm Over Dangerous Rise in Illegal THC Vapes

    Dutch schools are reporting a surge in dangerous incidents linked to illegal THC vapes laced with synthetic drugs, raising alarms among health experts and government officials. The devices, often sold through Snapchat and delivered directly to schools, are marketed as cannabis vapes, but lab tests revealed they almost always contain synthetic cannabinoids, known as “spice,” which can trigger severe side effects such as anxiety, heart palpitations, psychosis, and collapse. These substances have been banned in the Netherlands under the Opium Act since July.

    Addiction specialists warn the problem is spreading beyond Amsterdam to Utrecht, Amersfoort, and other regions. Major addiction clinics and the Trimbos Institute confirmed rising reports of students suffering health issues from THC vaping.

  • PCA Extends CEO Habursky Through 2031

    PCA Extends CEO Habursky Through 2031

    The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) extended the contract of executive director Joshua Habursky for five years, securing his governance through 2031. Habursky, who also serves as CEO, will continue overseeing the trade association’s operations and assets, including its Washington, D.C., office.

    Board president Todd Naifeh praised Habursky’s leadership, citing record membership and revenue growth, while vice president Paul Groh highlighted his forward-looking approach, including early planning for the PCA’s centennial in 2033. Since joining in 2019, Habursky has overseen initiatives such as the PCA Alliance program, an FIU educational partnership, and the launch of the World Cigar Show.

    At its fall meeting in Washington today (September 10), the Board also promoted Antoine Reid to senior director of marketing and communications and announced plans to hire an additional communications manager in early 2026.

  • Türkiye Rolls Out Mobile Clinics in Anti-Tobacco Campaign

    Türkiye Rolls Out Mobile Clinics in Anti-Tobacco Campaign

    Türkiye launched a nationwide campaign against tobacco, sending mobile cessation clinics and roving control teams to all 81 provinces, taking prevention and treatment directly to the public in city centers, villages, campuses, and industrial zones. The Health Ministry said teams will raise awareness about tobacco’s dangers, promote resources such as the 171 Quitline and the “Green Detector” app, and connect smokers ready to quit with doctors in mobile clinics.

    Branded “Smoke-Free Türkiye,” the drive is part of the country’s 2024–2028 action plan to curb tobacco use, which remains at 34.8% of people aged 15 and older.

  • Reign Bar Debuts Mana 50K at CHAMPS Austin

    Reign Bar Debuts Mana 50K at CHAMPS Austin

    At the CHAMPS Tradeshow in Austin, Texas, today (September 9), Vape brand Reign Bar launched Mana 50K, a disposable device that, according to the company, features “the industry’s first visible e-liquid tank and dual sweetness-ice adjustment.” Dubbed the “Specs Terminator,” the product delivers up to 50,000 puffs with consistent output.

    Equipped with a high-power mesh coil, smart display controls, adjustable power, sweetness, and ice intensity, Reign says “Mana 50K addresses demand for customizable, anxiety-free vaping.” The device debuted with 10 fruit-flavor blends.

  • VELO Teams with McLaren in Fan-Centric Marketing Campaign

    VELO Teams with McLaren in Fan-Centric Marketing Campaign

    VELO has teamed with the McLaren Formula 1 Team to launch “Live Your Fandom,” a campaign designed to deepen fan engagement by offering exclusive, behind-the-scenes access. Nine fans from around the world were selected through McLaren Plus app competitions to spend a day inside the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK. The immersive experience included a surprise meeting with McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, a design workshop, and a Q&A with driver Lando Norris.

    “VELO, who champions those that embrace authenticity and self-expression, and the McLaren Formula 1 Team, are putting fandom front and center,” VELO said in a press release. “The two brands have come together to deliver unparalleled experiences and reward a community of global fans throughout the F1 season.”

  • MRECA: Should Hear from All Parties, Not Rely on “Biased” Vape Report 

    MRECA: Should Hear from All Parties, Not Rely on “Biased” Vape Report 

    The Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association (MRECA) voiced concern over the Health Parliament Special Select Committee’s (PSSC) latest report, which proposes a blanket ban on the sale and use of e-cigarettes and vape. MRECA said the report was biased and prepared without consulting key stakeholders, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, consumers, and independent experts.

    “The industry supports firm and balanced regulations, including age restrictions, product standards, and consumer safety measures,” MRECA said in its statement. “However, the process must be transparent and inclusive. Allegations made against the industry should be reviewed and verified with scientific evidence, not assumptions.”

    The association urged the Health PSSC to hold consultation sessions with all stakeholders before finalizing recommendations. “Without a fair and comprehensive process, a blanket ban would unfairly punish the industry as a whole,” MRECA said. “The vape sector should be seen as part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

  • Smoking Bill Amendments Cleared, Debate Looming in Hong Kong

    Smoking Bill Amendments Cleared, Debate Looming in Hong Kong

    Hong Kong’s Legislative Council President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen ruled that all three sets of amendments proposed by the Liberal Party to the government’s smoking control bill comply with procedural rules, paving the way for debate when the second reading resumes on September 10. The amendments, led by Liberal Party chairman and retail sector lawmaker Peter Shiu Ka-fai, seek to scrap the planned flavored cigarette ban, delay measures such as plain packaging through an “affirmative vetting” process, and broaden exemptions for additives used in cigarette manufacturing. While the government argued the changes would dilute its policy intent, Leung said the proposals do not breach the Rules of Procedure.

    Passage of the amendments will require majority support in both functional and geographical constituencies under LegCo’s dual voting system.

  • PCA Launches Premium Retailer Finder

    PCA Launches Premium Retailer Finder

    The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) introduced “Find Your Tobacconist,” a new interactive store locator on its website that enables enthusiasts to discover nearby premium tobacco retailers that are current PCA members. By leveraging geolocation and an intuitive map interface, the feature makes it easier than ever to support local brick-and-mortar tobacconists.

    Visit premiumcigars.org/find-your-tobacconist to use the locator.

  • Gudang Garam Denies Layoff Rumors Amid Financial Strain

    Gudang Garam Denies Layoff Rumors Amid Financial Strain

    Indonesian cigarette producer PT Gudang Garam has strongly denied claims of mass layoffs at its Kediri and Tuban factories. Over the weekend, a viral video showing hundreds of PT Gudang Garam Tbk employees shaking hands in what appeared to be an emotional farewell sparked layoff rumors. Adib Musyafa, head of human resources at the Tuban plant, called those rumors false and the video misleading, confirming that all 850 employees remain active, and no layoffs have occurred. He clarified that routine performance evaluations do not automatically lead to dismissals, urging the public to rely on official company statements.

    The Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI) picked up on the video and said it was verifying the reports and warned of potential ripple effects across the supply chain, which added to the validity of the rumor.

    The company reportedly saw an 82% drop in net profit in 2024 and its stock drop 33.7% this year, pointing to the financial pressures of higher excise taxes, falling sales, and competition from illegal cigarettes, but insists that mass workforce reductions have not taken place.