Category: Featured

Sahani to Lead Blinc Group

Pete Sahani (left) and Arnaud Dumas de Rauly | Photo: The Blinc Group
The Blinc Group has appointed Pete Sahani as its new CEO effective Dec. 1, replacing co-founder Arnaud Dumas de Rauly.
Sahani brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having been instrumental in a number of key initiatives since joining Blinc as chief operating officer in April 2022.
“Pete has been a pivotal figure in our leadership team, playing a significant role in not only steering us to positive EBITDA and net income but also in the introduction of innovative services like Scale Now Pay Later and Vendor Managed Inventory,” said Dumas de Rauly in a statement. “With his exceptional skill in operational management and strategic planning, I am confident that Pete is the ideal leader to propel Blinc into a future marked by sustained profitability and expanded service offerings.”
“It’s an honor to step into the CEO role at the Blinc Group,” said Sahani. “I am excited to build upon the strong foundation laid by Arnaud and our team by leading the company toward new heights of innovation and market leadership.”
Dumas de Rauly will transition to the position of chief experience and science officer and will retain his position on the Blinc Group board. In his new position, Dumas de Rauly will focus on integrating analytical science and consumer safety with superior customer experiences.
Dumas de Rauly has been at the helm of the Blinc Group since 2018, establishing the company as a key player in the cannabis vaping business.
“Arnaud has been a visionary leader under whose guidance Blinc has established itself as a major player in the cannabis vaping space and has always done so while keeping a strong focus on consumer safety,” said co-founder and Chief Innovations Officer Sasha Aksenov. “His strategic foresight has been invaluable, and we are certain that he will continue to play a pivotal role in Blinc’s future.”
November 29, 2023
Herbal Heated Sticks Market ‘On Fire’

Photo: cirquedesprit
Herbal heated sticks are rapidly spreading worldwide not only as a replacement for conventional smoking, but also as an alternative to heated tobacco products, according to new research from TobaccoIntelligence.
These products provide an experience similar to using heated tobacco, but unlike heated tobacco products they do not contain any tobacco. Instead, they use a different substance—often tea—to hold flavorings and, sometimes, nicotine.
Now, the new TobaccoIntelligence Herbal Heated Sticks Tracker casts light on this fast-growing but poorly understood market.
It reveals that fruit flavors are the most popular in most countries covered, but nicotine strengths vary greatly. In some countries, such as Japan, only zero-nicotine products are sold.
“Heated herbal sticks are typically cheaper than comparable tobacco products, and are also compatible with some heated tobacco devices. So from the consumer’s point of view, they offer a low-cost alternative—while for manufacturers, they can provide a legal way of providing flavors in countries where heated tobacco flavors are banned,” explains Eva Antal, director of market analysis at TobaccoIntelligence’s publisher Tamarind Intelligence.
“We expect more product launches in more countries–but at the same time, we don’t expect regulators to ignore them forever,” says Antal.
Currently, Japan and Poland have the most products available, although there are far more different brands in Japan.
And Japan is also among the countries where these products are cheapest. By contrast, Germany is the most expensive.
The Herbal Heated Sticks Tracker covers nine major markets: the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland, Russia and the U.K.
November 29, 2023
Firestone to Lead 22nd Century Group

Photo: Gajus
22nd Century Group has appointed Lawrence Firestone as its chairman and CEO.
Firestone brings over 40 years of enterprise, operations and financial management experience in both public and private companies, including tenures as CEO, chief financial officer and chief operating officer across multiple industry sectors. He most recently served as chief financial officer of Oakland Manager, a privately held purveyor of cannabis with both retail and wholesale market penetration, and as chairman of FirePower Technology, a privately held manufacturer of ATX power supplies for the IT and instrumentation markets.
“Larry is a seasoned executive known for his ‘hands-on’ leadership style emphasizing teamwork, business alignment, continuous improvement, cost control and process optimization. His track record of success with fast growing public companies will serve 22nd Century well as it continues to execute the strategic business plan and work to drive shareholder value,” said Nora Sullivan, former chair of the board, in a statement.
“I am excited to lead 22nd Century Group as we refocus our current strategic plans built around innovative plant technologies for tobacco harm reduction and new consumer focused health and wellness products,” said Firestone.
“The team at 22nd Century has created one of the industry’s most innovative integrated tobacco platforms, from plant genetics to fully commercialized disruptive consumer products. I am confident we can build upon the success the company has had to date while developing strategies that can enhance value for shareholders.”
November 29, 2023
Health Advocates Slam Endgame Reversals

Photo: aletia2011
Health advocates condemned moves in New Zealand and Malaysia to scrap legislation that would have banned tobacco sales to future generations.
Passed by the previous government, the New Zealand measure would have outlawed tobacco sales to anyone born after Jan. 1, 2009. It also would have limited the amount of nicotine allowed in smoked tobacco products and cut the number of tobacco retailers by 90 percent.
After New Zealand’s elections earlier this year, the country’s new center-right coalition announced it would repeal the generational tobacco ban.
“This is major loss for public health, and a huge win for the tobacco industry – whose profits will be boosted at the expense of Kiwi lives,” Boyd Swinburn, co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA) in New Zealand, was quoted as saying by Reuters.
HCA pointed to academic research that found the laws could have saved some $1.3 billion in health system costs over 20 years, and reduced mortality rates.
In Malaysia meanwhile, lawmakers decided to remove a generational tobacco ban from proposed legislation after that country’s attorney general questioned the constitutionality of the endgame clause because it would create two sets of laws for two groups of citizens based on age.
Former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, however, blamed the tobacco lobby for Malaysia’s U-turn.
“Don’t even think for a minute that GEG [generational endgame] was dropped because of some lame excuse of a legal argument proffered by the AG,” he was quoted as saying by The Star. “No, GEG was dropped because of the strong lobby from Big Tobacco.”
Despite the setback, Jamaluddin said the fight against tobacco would continue. “This is not over,” he said. “One day, public health will win.”
Even as New Zealand and Malaysia reversed their endgame clauses, England reiterated its commitment to its version of the plan. Asked whether Rishi Sunak would consider following New Zealand and Malaysia’s examples, a spokeswoman for the British prime minister said: “No, our position remains unchanged. This is an important long-term decision and step to deliver a smoke-free generation which remains critically important.”
November 28, 2023
Accorto and Inter Scientific Team Up

From left to right: Vince Angelico: chief scientific officer (Accorto), Jason Krull: chief operating officer (Accorto), Tom Beaudet: CEO (Accorto), Mark Dignum: director (Inter Scientific), Russ Rogers: president (Accorto), David Lawson: director (Inter Scientific)
Photo: Inter Scientific
Accorto Regulatory Solutions and Inter Scientific have entered into a strategic alliance agreement to provide single-point regulatory and testing solutions for customers in the nicotine industry and other sectors.
Based in the U.S., Accorto specializes in helping small- to mid-sized companies navigate the regulatory landscape to bring products that are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration to market. Inter Scientific is an ISO 17025/GMP-compliant testing laboratory and compliance firm based in the U.K.
The strategic alliance will offer customers in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Asia improved access to a Accorto’s regulatory strategy development expertise, FDA regulatory application development and submission services, and project management solutions combined with Inter Scientific’s testing and regulatory compliance expertise in the U.K., Europe and the Middle East.
The two companies aspire to use this alliance to streamline their clients’ regulatory application development processes, providing a turn-key solution for both regulatory support and associated analytical data development.
“We are thrilled to unveil our strategic alliance with Accorto,” said Inter Scientific co-founder David Lawson in a statement. “This collaboration represents a significant milestone, offering both new and existing clients a competitive advantage. By aligning with another industry-leading regulatory company that shares the same commitments to quality, urgency, and value, we are confident this will further elevate our standards and capacity.”
“We could not be more pleased to be entering into our first strategic alliance with a company like Inter Scientific that has such a fantastic team,” said Tom Beaudet, CEO of Accorto. “This not only provides our clients with the ability to collect data needed to prove the safety and efficacy of their products, but also allows us to shorten their regulatory application timelines, giving them a competitive advantage.”
November 28, 2023
New COP and MOP Dates Announced
Photo: JeromeMaurice
The World Health Organization has announced the dates for the resumed in-person sessions of the 10th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the third session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP3) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.
Following communication received from Panama, the host country of COP10 and MOP3, and in consultation with the Bureaus of the Conference of the Parties to the FCTC and of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol, the dates for the resumed in-person sessions of COP10 and MOP3 have now been set as follows:
Resumed COP10: Feb. 5-10, 2024
Resumed MOP3: Feb 12-15, 2024
November 28, 2023
Australia to Ban Imports of Disposables in 2024

Photo: Alexandr Tyeryechov
Australia will ban imports of single-use e-cigarettes in January and all non-therapeutic vapes, including refillable devices, in March, reports Reuters. Importers of vapes for medical purposes will need a permit from the Office of Drug Control, according to Health Minister Mark Butler.
Additional legislation next year will apply the same restrictions to domestic manufacturers.
“These are the vapes that have pink unicorns on them, bubblegum flavoring, disguised in order for them to hide them in their pencil cases,” Butler was quoted as saying.
“This is not a therapeutic good to help hardened smokers kick the habit. This is a good that is deliberately targeted at kids to recruit them to nicotine addiction.”
Around one if five Australians aged 18 to 24 vape, according to government data.
To ensure continued access to vapes for smokers looking to quit, Doctors will be given expanded powers in January to prescribe therapeutic vapes when clinically appropriate.
November 28, 2023
Foundation Cuts Tobacco Ties

Clifford Douglas | Photo: FSFW
The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW) will stop accepted funding from the nicotine industry, reports Reuters.
Set up in 2017 with support from Philip Morris International, which pledged to provide tens of millions of dollars every year for 12 years to keep it running, the organization has struggled to gain credibility with tobacco control advocates.
The foundation will now rebrand and find new funders from outside of the industry, said Clifford Douglas, who took the foundation’s helm in October.
A tobacco control advocate veteran, Douglas said he wants to see the foundation reestablished as a credible actor in ending smoking.
“Any skepticism around our independence can be laid to rest,” he said.
Tobacco control groups expressed reservations, however.
“Whether it’s true or not, [Douglas] will be seen as pursuing PMI’s agenda, not that of public health,” said Deborah Arnott, CEO of Action on Smoking and Health in the U.K. The foundation’s role, she said, was “irredeemably tainted” by its PMI funding.
Yolonda Richardson, president and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, said it was “ludicrous” for the foundation to claim independence after accepting a hefty payment from PMI.
PMI said the split was mutual, and wished the foundation success.
November 28, 2023
‘Systemic Failures’ Blamed for COP Delay

Photo: Unitas Photography
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) blames “systemic failures” at the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) for the postponement of the 10th Conference of the Parties (COP10) that was due to take place last week in Panama.
“While the ‘official’ reason for the postponement of the conference was said to be security issues on the ground in Panama, it has come to light that the unfulfilled COP10 organization contract for which $5 million was allocated by the Panamanian Ministry of Health was terminated by the government at the end of October, finding itself without any service provider to ensure the event took place,” CAPHRA wrote in an e-mailed statement.
“The fact that the WHO FCTC knew in October that they did not have a venue or conference planning underway and waited until the week before the conference was due to begin before cancelling it shows contempt for member states and a blatant disregard and dismissal of the months spent creating and submitting position papers, requesting budget allocations from their governments and planning their attendance—including airfares, visas and hotel reservations,” the tobacco harm reduction group wrote.
“But then again, it seems a nonissue that $5 million disappeared, said the CAPHRA. Money that doctors in Panama said would be better spent on actual healthcare in the country—incubators, medicines and facilities.”
According to CAPHRA, the WHO FCTC’s actions not only threaten public health but also cause economic strain and foster next-generation addiction.
“The WHO FCTC is tone deaf to anything or anyone that questions the work they are mandated to do,” said CAPHRA Executive Coordinator Nancy Loucas. “This includes sabotaging health policies, negatively impacting the environment and using funds from Big Pharma and the Bloomberg Foundation, among others, to promote misleading narratives and undermine tobacco harm reduction efforts.”
November 27, 2023
PMI Names U.S. Communications Officer

Photo: PMI
Philip Morris International has appointed Travis Parman as vice president and chief communications officer of the U.S.
“We are thrilled that Travis is joining us in our bold ambition to deliver a smoke-free future in the United States. We’re on a mission to replace cigarettes—the most harmful form of nicotine consumption—as soon as possible with science-based smoke-free alternatives that are a better choice than continued cigarette use,” said Stacey Kennedy, president of the Americas region and CEO of PMI’s U.S. business, in a statement. “With his passion for positive change and deep communications experience in the U.S. and internationally, Travis will be a valuable addition to our leadership team.”
Parman joins PMI from AppHarvest, a tech-driven sustainable food company based in Kentucky, where he served as chief communications officer since 2020. He previously held multiple roles with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance in Paris; Nashville; and Yokohama, Japan—most recently as vice president of international communications and global engagement.
Prior to his work with the alliance, he held public relations and communications leadership roles at General Motors, Ally Financial and PulteGroup. Parman holds a master’s degree in communications management from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Tennessee.
“Joining PMI at such a pivotal moment in the company’s journey toward a smoke-free future provides the perfect opportunity to drive meaningful change, which has been a hallmark throughout my career as a communicator,” said Parman.
November 27, 2023