Category: People

  • James Mish Appointed to 22nd Century Board

    James Mish Appointed to 22nd Century Board

    Photo: Bill Gallery

    22nd Century Group has appointed James A. Mish to its board of directors.

    “The board of directors is very pleased to appoint Jim to the board, recognizing his exceptional leadership in developing and executing the business strategy leading to the commercial launches of our modified-risk tobacco products as well as our hemp/cannabis lines,” said Nora B. Sullivan, chairperson of the board of directors, in a statement.

    “Bringing him onto the board further enhances our direct scientific, manufacturing and operational experience in these critically important end markets during a transformative time for our company. His contributions in the board room will also enhance the ongoing development of our strategies and ensure alignment and support for the execution of the strategic initiatives of the company.”

    Mish has served as 22nd Century Group’s CEO since June 2020. Trained as a chemist, he brings a detailed understanding of molecular, organic and formulation sciences to the board—particularly in botanical products and consumer product innovation. He also brings deep experience navigating the regulatory matters related to product approvals and clinical trials, particularly with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency and European Food Safety Authority.

    Prior to joining 22nd Century, Mish led the private equity carve out of Noramco from Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceuticals and the subsequent spinoff of Purisys from Noramco. Mish served as president and CEO of Purisys, leading its pharmaceutically derived cannabinoid API, ingredients and solutions business, including full-scale commercial production of cannabinoid APIs for various market segments, including pharmaceuticals, medical OTC and consumer packaged goods.

    Mish began his career at the multinational pharmaceutical firm Pfizer in research and development before holding positions of increasing responsibility at several companies.

  • Respira Creates Science Advisory Board

    Respira Creates Science Advisory Board

    Respira Technologies has created a scientific advisory board and appointed Jasjit S. Ahluwalia as its chair.

    According to Respira, the scientific advisory board plans to strengthen the company’s connection to the constantly evolving body of scientific evidence on the issues of tobacco use, harm reduction, nicotine and smoking cessation being generated by public health to guide the development of its technology and pipeline for current and future new drug applications.

    “As a biotechnology company whose goal is to end the death and disease caused by smoking through the development of a breakthrough smoking cessation therapy, we must be guided by and have a deep understanding of the constantly evolving data and science generated by public health on issues important to our business,” said Respira Technologies CEO Mario Danek in a statement.

    “We are thrilled to name Dr. Ahluwalia as chair and the founding member of our scientific advisory board. He represents one of the best and brightest scientific minds with decades of experience in studying nicotine addiction and cessation. Having guidance and perspective from the most distinguished researchers in this space will be critical to Respira achieving its goal of contributing to eliminating preventable morbidity and mortality and achieving health equity.”

    Ahluwalia is a leader in academic research and public health focused on studying tobacco use, nicotine addiction and smoking cessation. He is a physician and public health scientist at Brown University.

    Through his research, he has also investigated issues of health disparities and minority health broadly across multiple areas of substance use, cancer prevention and public health.

    At Brown University, he is a professor, associate director of the Legoretta Cancer Center and deputy director of the Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation, a NIH-funded Center of Biomedical Research Excellence. Ahluwalia’s work has generated over 350 publications in leading scientific journals, and he has received over $100 million in research funding as a principal and co-investigator.

    As chair of Respira’s Scientific Advisory Board, Ahluwalia will be engaged in the company’s scientific strategy, development of clinical research and leading engagement within the nicotine, addiction and cessation public health community. His broad healthcare research background will guide Respira’s current application and inform the company’s development pipeline to expand application of its proprietary drug delivery platform across a diverse spectrum of indications and patient populations.

    “I have dedicated the last 30 years of my career to understanding nicotine addiction, cessation and the complex issues they create in our society, especially among ethnic minority and other vulnerable populations,” said Ahluwalia. “Respira has the potential to create a very significant impact on this important public health crisis.  I am thrilled to be leading Respira’s scientific advisory board and look forward to assisting the company in its efforts to improve the lives of hundreds of millions of smokers looking to quit around the world.”

    Respira Technologies is preparing to submit an investigative new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2022, which will allow the company to begin human clinical studies. The company is pursuing a prescription designation for its portable handheld combination drug device for the indication of smoking cessation therapy.

  • Essentra Appoints Operations Director

    Essentra Appoints Operations Director

    Lay Moi Kow (Photo: Essentra Filters)

    Essentra Filters has appointed Lay Moi Kow as global operations director—filters, based out of Essentra’s Singapore office. Lay Moi joins the global filters leadership team.

    Lay Moi has been with Essentra Filters since 2020, joining the company as regional Asia and global operational excellence director. Lay Moi was involved in setting up systems for quality and continuous improvement, building the Asia and global operations team and as a project director for the China Joint Venture Co., ensuring that the project was delivered on time and on target.

    “I look forward to focusing on Essentra Filters’ strategic initiatives for sustainability, heated tobacco, and expansion into new markets,” says Lay Moi. “With support and commitment from Robert Pye, managing director and the team, I am confident that we will continue to deliver excellence to our customers.”

    Pye was appointed managing director of Essentra Filters on Jan 6.

  • Maneson to Lead Sales at Lucy Modern Oral

    Maneson to Lead Sales at Lucy Modern Oral

    Photo: Jakub Jirsák | Dreamstime.com

    Lucy has named Rob Maneson head of sales. Maneson will help the modern oral nicotine startup expand its distribution and retail presence.

    Prior to joining Luci, Maneson held leadership positions at Imperial Brands, including that of senior vice president of sales for Fontem and CEO of JR Cigar. Earlier in the career, Maneson held sales positions at Altria and served as a category manager for tobacco products at RaceTrac Petroleum. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree.

    Additionally, Joe Johnson has been named national accounts director. He will work with major retailers around the country to grow Lucy’s retail presence.

    Johnson comes to Lucy from Sweet Water Brewing Co. where he was vice president of national accounts. Prior to his six-year stint at Sweet Water, he served as category manager, alcohol beverages at RaceTrac Petroleum. Johnson earned his Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Georgia, majoring in marketing.

    Lucy was founded by former smokers who were dissatisfied with the traditional nicotine options available and set out to develop better alternatives. Its products include Kapsel and Slim nicotine pouches, along with a variety of flavors and nicotine strengths under the Chew + Park brand.

  • Board Members Nominated at Stora Enso

    Board Members Nominated at Stora Enso

    Photo: bas121 | Adobe Stock

    Stora Enso’s shareholders’ nomination board will propose nine board members at the company’s annual general meeting (AGM) on March 15, according to a company press release.

    The shareholders’ nomination board proposes that Hakan Buskhe, Elisabeth Fleuriot, Hock Goh, Helena Hedblom, Christiane Kuehne, Antti Makinen, Richard Nilsson and Hans Sohlstrom be reelected members of the board of directors until the end of the following AGM and that Kari Jordan be elected new member of the board of directors for the same term of office.

    The shareholders’ nomination board proposes that Antti Makinen be elected chair and Hakan Buskhe be elected vice chair of the board of directors.

    Mikko Helander announced that he is not available for reelection to the board of directors.

  • Essentra Filters Names New Managing Director

    Essentra Filters Names New Managing Director

    Robert Pye (Photo: Essentra)

    Essentra Filters has appointed Robert Pye as managing director of filters, based out of Essentra’s Singapore office.

    Pye joined Essentra in August 2016 and was most recently the global operations director of the filters division. He succeeds Kamal Taneja, who will take up his new role as managing director of Essentra’s packaging division.

    “I am excited to be taking over the new role as managing director of Essentra Filters and I thank Kamal for his hard work and contribution in developing the filters division business under his leadership,” said Pye.

    “Our focus has always been to ensure our customers’ success, which we have built over 80 years of commitment to innovation and excellence in the tobacco industry. We continue to be committed to supporting our partners in innovating new products for the growing heated-tobacco segment and more sustainable products, such as our expanding portfolio of ECO range plastic-free filters.”

  • Godfrey Phillips India Appoints New CEO

    Godfrey Phillips India Appoints New CEO

    Photo: tashatuvango

    Godfrey Phillips India (GPI) has appointed Sharad Aggarwal as CEO, according to The Economic Times. Aggarwal succeeds Bhisham Wadhera and will report to GPI President and Managing Director Bina Modi.

    Wadhera, who has led GPI since 2015, resigned on Dec. 26 and will continue as an advisor and mentor.

    Sharad has been with the organization since 1994 and has exceptional credentials of delivering results,” said Modi. “He has proven himself as an inspiring leader and led transformational changes in the organizations, and I firmly believe he is the right choice to unleash to potential of Godfrey Phillips to the fullest, create a sustainable business with sales and profit growth and value for all stakeholders.”

    Prior to his most recent appointment, Aggarwal was chief operating officer of GPI. During his tenure as COO, Aggarwal invested in technology, processes and certifications for GPI’s manufacturing facilities. An alumnus of the Harvard Business School, Aggarwal holds a degree in electronics from REXC, Nagpur, and a post-graduate diploma in business management from IMTR, Ghaziabad.

    GPI’s cigarette brands include Four Square, Red & White and Cavanders. The company also has an exclusive agreement to manufacture and distribute PMI’s Marlboro cigarettes in India.

  • Turning Point Brands Appoints New CEO

    Turning Point Brands Appoints New CEO

    Photo: Jakub Jirsák | Dreamstime.com

    Turning Point Brands (TPB) has appointed Yavor Efremov as president and CEO, effective Jan. 11,2022. Efremov succeeds the company’s current CEO, Larry Wexler, who will retire in January following 18 years at TPB. Wexler will remain on the board of directors and serve as a consultant to the company following his retirement.

    Prior to joining TPB, Efremov served as the CEO of Motorsport Network, where he was responsible for upgrading the IT infrastructure, processes and company strategy to support the integration of more than 30 businesses around the world. He also served as a senior executive at Liberty Media Corp., where he was instrumental in sourcing, financing and growing Liberty’s investments in multibillion-dollar businesses, including Charter Communications and Formula 1.

    “Yavor came highly recommended by some of the most successful operators and investors in the world,” said David Glazek, chairman of TPB in a statement. “The board is confident he has the right skill-set to help grow the company to the size and scale necessary to maximize value in a world driven by constantly shifting consumer preferences.”

    “During my time as a board member, I have been impressed by the company’s prospects across all divisions,” said Efremov. “In my new role as CEO, I look forward to working alongside this dynamic team of industry leaders to tackle large, compelling opportunities in our existing business and adjacent categories as continued regulatory developments open new avenues for future growth.”

    “It has been my sincere privilege to serve Turning Point Brands and its stakeholders during this period of significant growth as we increased EBITDA fivefold over the past 18 years,” said Wexler. “I want to thank both the board for the opportunity to serve our shareholders, and my colleagues for their dedication, hard work and, most importantly, their resiliency during my tenure.”

  • Broughton Restructures for Growth

    Broughton Restructures for Growth

    From left to right: Paul Moran, Nveed Chaudhary and Chris Allen

    Contract Research Organization Broughton is restructuring its operations to prepare for growth.

    Founder and CEO Paul Moran will transition to the role of executive chairman to further grow Broughton’s global capacity, focusing on expanding the company’s existing U.S. team. Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Chris Allen will become CEO on Jan. 1, 2022. Chief Regulatory Officer Nveed Chaudhary will take up the position of chief scientific and regulatory officer.

    ‘’Since 2006, our focus has always been to help our clients succeed,” said Moran. “With a passion for enhancing societal health and wellbeing, our expertise across harm reduction and next generation products now covers the broad life science industries of pharmaceuticals, nicotine containing products and cannabinoids. This next phase of our expansion is part of our natural evolution to grow capacity and capabilities. I’ll continue to focus my energies on new markets and early initiatives.”

    “The recent changes to our management team reflect our continued commitment and ambition to become the most trusted integrated services provider in the world,” said Allen. “Our additional investment plans into global operations will enable us to expand our services for clients across the nicotine, pharmaceutical and cannabinoids markets, always with a focus to help clients deliver life-enhancing products to market.”

  • FDA Nominee Vows to Close Synthetic Nicotine Loophole

    FDA Nominee Vows to Close Synthetic Nicotine Loophole

    Robert Califf

    Robert Califf vowed to close the synthetic nicotine loophole if appointed commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to a report by Vaping360.

    During Califf’s nomination hearing on Dec. 14, Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin expressed concern over reports that companies are switching to making flavored synthetic nicotine products in the wake of FDA marketing denial orders.

    “As FDA commissioner, how would you work to address the rise in youth use of synthetic nicotine, and will you commit to working with Congress to ensure that the FDA has the authorities and resources it needs to crack down on these products?” Baldwin asked.

    In response, Califf first noted that is crucial to appoint the right person to succeed Center for Products Director Mitch Zeller, who plans to retire in April 2022.

    “Secondly,” Califf continued, “this is not limited to children. I may have some family members using synthetic nicotine, I learned as I was going through the paces here. And what people don’t realize is that there are two enantiomers of nicotine—one of which is not occurring in nature—that are in this product, and its properties are not known.

    “So we’ve got to close this loophole,” Califf added, “so that we make sure that we understand the risks and benefits, and particularly deal with the issues in children.”

    The Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee will vote soon on whether to recommend Califf’s nomination to the full Senate. If the committee approves him, the former commissioner can expect full Senate confirmation to be the new commissioner soon, probably in January.