Category: People

  • Jason Carignan Joins Chemular

    Jason Carignan Joins Chemular

    Jason Carignan has joined Chemular, an FDA regulatory consultancy group, as its chief commercial officer.

    Carignan will lead the company’s revenue generation initiatives, strategic partnerships, and intellectual property monetization strategies across its diverse portfolio of business units, according to a press release.

    “Carignan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Chemular, having held various leadership positions in the tobacco and nicotine industry. He most recently served as president of Phillips & King and the Total Product Expo (TPE), both part of the Kretek International Inc. family of companies,” the release states. “Prior to that, he served as president of DRYFT Sciences, overseeing the successful development of the DRYFT line of nicotine pouches before selling the company to British American Tobacco in late-2020.”

    With an impressive track record of driving growth and creating strategic alliances, Carignan is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in expanding Chemular’s market presence and further establishing the company as a leader in FDA regulatory matters.

    Kevin Burd, CEO of Chemular. said he is thrilled to welcome Carignan to the Chemular team. “His deep industry knowledge and proven leadership in revenue generation and partnership strategies will be instrumental in driving our growth and expanding our client base,” said Burd. “We believe Jason’s appointment will advance our mission of providing comprehensive regulatory solutions to our clients and partners.”

    Carignan will work closely with Chemular’s executive team to develop and execute business development strategies, identify new revenue opportunities, and forge strategic partnerships that enhance the company’s market position, according to the release.

    Carignan said he was excited to join the Chemular team.

    “Chemular has established itself as a trusted and innovative partner for clients navigating the complex landscape of FDA regulations,” Carignan said. “I look forward to leveraging my experience and expertise to drive revenue growth, establish impactful partnerships, and contribute to Chemular’s continued success.”

  • Chuck Melander Joins Streamline Group

    Chuck Melander Joins Streamline Group

    Chuck Melander

    Streamline Group has added Chuck Melander as the company’s chief strategy officer.

    Melander joins Streamline Group as a highly experienced strategic executive recognized for his capabilities in leadership, corporate management, strategic planning, strategy execution, financial analysis, marketing and product development.

    Melander most recently spent 16 years at Turning Point Brands as senior vice president of operations, product integrity and quality assurance. Prior to Turning Point Brands, he worked at Swedish Match for 22 years, leading that company’s product development, quality assurance and snus marketing areas.

    As Streamline Group’s chief strategy officer, Melander will be working closely with CEO Patrick Mulcahy and Chief Operating Officer Matthew Halvorson to build the company’s growth initiatives around the Juice Head brand family of nicotine products while accelerating the growth in Streamline’s alternative products division.

    “Having worked in the nicotine space with leading CPG companies for 40 years, I have never been more excited to be able to join such a talented team of consumer-focused individuals with incredible brands in the nicotine and alternative product category,” said Melander in a statement. “After retiring from Turning Point Brands, I never thought that I would come out of retirement, but after seeing the unlimited growth potential of the organization, I couldn’t pass up such an exciting opportunity.

    “We are very excited and confident with our decision to expand our senior leadership team and bring on such an incredible and experienced leader in the nicotine category to the organization,” said Mulcahy. “Chuck’s experience in strategic planning, execution across the organization and ability to act as a true think partner will help us deliver on our long-term vision for Streamline Group. This addition to Streamline reinforces one of our core values of investing in talented people who have a shared vision, immediate impact and growth to our organization.”

  • Scandinavian Welcomes Employee Rep

    Scandinavian Welcomes Employee Rep

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    The employees of the parent company Scandinavian Tobacco Group have elected a new employee representative for the company’s board of directors, according to a press release.

    The newly elected employee representative, Karsten Dam Larsen, replaces the employee-elected representative Trine Eriksen, whose mandate expired in connection with an internal merger of some Danish companies in the group.

    Karsten Dam Larsen joins the board of directors effective June 22 and for the remainder of the ordinary term of the current employee-elected board members, which runs until Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s annual general meeting in 2027.

  • Van-Tull Sworn in as President of WBA

    Van-Tull Sworn in as President of WBA

    LieAnn Van-Tull | Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    LieAnn Van-Tull, an associate with Keller and Heckman’s Food and Drug Packaging and Tobacco and E-Vapor practice groups, was sworn in as president of the Washington Bar Association (WBA) on June 14, 2023. In addition, Van-Tull was honored as a National Conference of Bar Presidents (NCBP) Diversity Scholar for the 2023–2024 class.

    Founded in 1925, the Washington Bar Association is the oldest and largest predominantly Black bar association in Washington, D.C. The WBA’s leadership team is dedicated to improving and protecting the well-being of the legal profession and its members, advancing the science of jurisprudence and the administration of justice and promoting diversity within the legal field.

    “Having served as president-elect, secretary and membership chair, LieAnn has been an active member of the WBA since 2016,” said Cynthia Lieberman, chair of Keller and Heckman’s diversity and inclusion committee. “She is also a talented and hardworking attorney here at Keller and Heckman. Both of LieAnn’s accomplishments—being elected WBA president and receiving the NCBP Diversity Scholar award—highlight her commitment to legal excellence and LieAnn’s dedication to the greater legal community.”

    The National Conference of Bar Presidents was founded in 1950 to empower, connect and inspire bar leaders and organizations. As a Diversity Scholar, Van-Tull will attend NCBP leadership trainings and conferences throughout the year.

    “It is such an honor to be of service as the president of the WBA and to have been selected as an NCBP Diversity Scholar,” said Van-Tull, “and I am excited about the promising year ahead. I am especially looking forward to fulfilling this year’s bar theme, ‘Legacy is the Foundation Upon Which We Build: Moving Forward Boldly,’ by building upon the WBA’s current membership and creating more opportunities for law students, lawyers and judges to collaborate with WBA’s stakeholders.”

    “LieAnn’s clear dedication to protecting equal justice under the law, community engagement and improving diversity in the legal profession will make her a natural fit for the president role,” said Richard Mann, chair of Keller and Heckman’s management committee. “As a firm, we look forward to watching her succeed in her new position.”

    Van-Tull will serve as president of the WBA for the 2023–2024 bar year.

  • BAT Changes Management Board

    BAT Changes Management Board

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    Following the appointment of Tadeu Marroco as CEO on May 15, 2023, BAT has announced changes to its management board. According to BAT, the new structure, roles and composition of the management board will support Tadeu’s commitment to a sharpened focus on improved execution and operational excellence; enhanced capabilities critical to BAT’s strategic development and transformation; and a progressive and agile organization with a collaborative and inclusive culture.

    This refreshed management board structure is critical to my commitment to build a progressive and agile organization with a collaborative and inclusive culture, enabling simultaneous performance and transformation.

    Tadeu Marroco, CEO, BAT

    Johan Vandermeulen will be appointed to the new role of chief operating officer, reporting to the CEO, effective July 1, 2023. This role will be accountable for driving business performance, operational excellence and best-in-class execution, with a focus on both short-term and sustainable delivery. Reporting to Vandermeulen will be David Waterfield, promoted to the management board as president and CEO of Reynolds American Inc. effective July 1, 2023; Fred Monteiro (director of Americas and Europe) and Michael Dijanosic (director of Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa); Zafar Khan (director of operations) and Javed Iqbal (director of digital and information). Iqbal also currently serves as interim finance director.

    Kingsley Wheaton will be appointed to the new role of chief strategy and growth officer, reporting to the CEO, effective Sept. 1, 2023. This role will be accountable for continued strategic development and delivery of sharper consumer focus through an integrated approach to brands together with shaping enablers for long-term sustainable growth and driving the company’s robust ESG agenda. Reporting to Wheaton will be Luciano Comin, appointed to the new role of marketing director of combustibles and new categories effective July 1, 2023—this role will be accountable for a more integrated approach to insights, innovation, brand-building, consumer experience and activation and revenue growth management across the combustibles and new categories portfolios; Paul McCrory, promoted to the management board to the new role of director of corporate and regulatory affairs effective Sept. 1, 2023—this role will be accountable for shaping regulatory strategy and leading regulatory engagement to secure sustainable access to markets and categories; and James Barrett, promoted to the management board to the new role of director of business development effective Sept. 1, 2023—this role will be accountable for strategy development, M&A, the Wellbeing and Stimulation portfolio and BAT’s venturing unit, Btomorrow Ventures; James Murphy, director of research and science, and Jerome Abelman, director of legal affairs and general counsel, continue in their roles reporting directly to the CEO.

    Guy Meldrum, currently president and CEO of Reynolds American Inc., and Paul Lageweg, currently director of new categories, will step down from their roles and from the management board effective June 30, 2023, and will facilitate a transition with their successors.

    Hae In Kim will step down from the management board effective June 30, 2023, to take up the role of strategic talent director, reporting to the CEO. As an integral part of her responsibilities in this leadership role working alongside the board and the management board, Kim will oversee the execution of several key projects as part of BAT’s talent agenda.

    The existing roles of chief transformation officer, chief growth officer, director of new categories and director of combustibles will be removed from the management board as their accountabilities transfer within the new structure.

    A comprehensive process is underway to identify and appoint the successors for the roles of finance director and director of talent, culture and inclusion, reporting to the CEO.

    “This refreshed management board structure is critical to my commitment to build a progressive and agile organization with a collaborative and inclusive culture, enabling simultaneous performance and transformation,” said Marroco in a statement. “To that end, I am delighted to be welcoming David, Paul and James to the management board. They are all highly collaborative leaders who have the depth of experience to enable the continued strategic and cultural transformation of BAT.

    “I would like to thank Guy for his significant contribution across many markets and geographies over the last two decades and Paul for his role in helping to create a new category business that continues to drive BAT’s transformation. I also look forward to working with Hae In as strategic talent director.”

  • David Paton Joins Philter

    David Paton Joins Philter

    David Paton

    David Paton, the former head of global open innovation at BAT, has joined Philter as the company’s chief innovation officer. Paton became a member of the Philter science and strategic advisory board in September 2022.

    As the company’s chief innovation officer, he will play a key role working with the company’s co-founder and CTO, John Grimm, to advance the company’s next-generation technologies. During his time at BAT, Paton served in several senior innovation roles, including head of product development for tobacco-heating products, head of global discovery and head of global open innovation. Paton has extensive experience in product strategy, product development and new-to-world innovations gained from his career at BAT and previously Kimberly-Clark.

    “From the moment I saw the latest technological developments at Philter, I immediately recognized how the company will materially change the way consumers smoke and vape, making it less risky for everyone,” said Paton in a statement. “Philter has undoubtedly created game-changing technology that will change the cannabis and nicotine consumption landscape.”

    “We were very excited when David Paton joined our science and strategic advisory board and thrilled that he will be joining Philter as the company’s chief innovations officer. His role will be key to shoring up more of our IP and helping the company reach its innovation goals. David will also support product development to launch the industry’s first vaping/smoking device for organic substrates with Philter patented filtration to eradicate secondhand smoke,” said Christos Nicolaidis, Philter CEO.

  • Tom Briant Retires as NATO Director

    Tom Briant Retires as NATO Director

    Image: National Association of Tobacco Outlets

    Tom Briant will be retiring from his position as the executive director of the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO).

    Briant was instrumental in founding NATO 23 years ago and has grown the association to be a leading voice in the industry, according to a press release.

    “I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of those NATO members that I have worked with over the years and who supported the association since it was formed in 2001, and I look forward to seeking new challenges in the industry,” said Briant.

    NATO’s mission is to enhance the business interests of retailers that sell tobacco and nicotine products, support the legislative and regulatory interest of its members and encourage the expansion of the retail tobacco and nicotine market in a responsible manner. NATO currently has 66,000 members.

    The board of directors has begun a search for the next executive director, and interested candidates should contact Chris Beaulier, board president.

  • Former STMA Manager Under Investigation

    Former STMA Manager Under Investigation

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    Wu Yi, a former deputy general manager of China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial Co., was placed under investigation “on suspicion of serious violation in law and discipline,” reports Caixin Global.

    The investigation was announced by the Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. This is the latest development in China’s campaign to crack down on corruption among government officials.

  • Kaival Appoints James Cassidy to Board

    Kaival Appoints James Cassidy to Board

    Image: Svyatoslav Lypynskyy | Adobe Stock

    Kaival Brands Innovations Group appointed James P. Cassidy as a new member of its board of directors, according to a press release.

    Cassidy joins the board of directors as part of Kaival Brands’ recently announced acquisition of an extensive vaporizer and inhalation technology patent portfolio from GoFire. Cassidy is an investor in, and serves as board advisor to, GoFire.

    “We are excited to announce Jim Cassidy as our newest independent director,” said Eric Mosser, chief operating officer, president and a director of Kaival Brands. “Jim’s background as a private equity investor and advisor to growing companies not only in the tobacco space but within the consumer and healthcare spaces will be of tremendous value as we look to expand into new verticals and opportunities following our GoFire patent portfolio acquisition.”

    Cassidy currently serves as the founder and CEO of Preposterous Holdings, a family-run private equity firm with offices in Asheville, North Carolina, USA, which he established in 2013. Cassidy has over 25 years of extensive experience and expertise as a private equity investor and advisor across several industries, including the key areas of tobacco, healthcare, consumer packaged goods and technology. Prior to his current roles, from 2000 to 2007, Cassidy was partner in the Strata Group, a wealth management advisory group at Smith Barney. He started his career in 1983 at UST, a tobacco business holding company, working in various roles in the government relations department and as director of corporate services.

  • Mckinney Appoints Fearon

    Mckinney Appoints Fearon

    Image: McKinney Regulatory Science Advisors

    McKinney Regulatory Science Advisors has appointed Ian Fearon as its new chief scientific officer.

    Fearon brings over 15 years of experience in the field of tobacco harm reduction, with a specific focus on clinical and behavioral studies of these products. His deep understanding of regulatory submissions in the United States and Europe will enable McKinney Regulatory Science Advisors to provide unparalleled support and guidance to clients navigating the complex regulatory landscape.

    Prior to joining McKinney Regulatory Science Advisors, Fearon held key leadership positions at renowned organizations in the industry. As the senior director of clinical and regulatory affairs EMEA at Juul Labs, he played a vital role in advancing the scientific understanding of tobacco and nicotine products and supporting the Juul premarket tobacco product application submission.

    Fearon also served as the director of tobacco research at Celerion, where he contributed significantly to the development of clinical evidence to support regulatory filings. Furthermore, his tenure as principal scientist and head of clinical research at BAT solidified his reputation as a thought leader in this space, according to McKinney Regulatory Science Advisors. Fearon has published more than 60 papers, including more than 20 on tobacco/nicotine product assessment, which have generated more than 3,200 citations. 

    “We are thrilled to welcome Ian as our chief scientific officer,” said Willie McKinney, CEO of McKinney Regulatory Science Advisors. “His extensive experience and deep knowledge of tobacco and nicotine science and worldwide regulations make him an invaluable asset to our team. With Ian’s guidance, we will continue to provide exceptional scientific and regulatory consulting services to our clients, facilitating their success in bringing innovative consumer products to market.”

    As the chief scientific officer, Fearon will oversee the company’s scientific operations, lead strategic initiatives and drive innovation in the regulatory science domain.