Category: People

  • New general manager at ATD Machinery

    New general manager at ATD Machinery

    Koen te Lintelo (Photo: ATD Machinery)

    ATD Machinery has appointed Koen te Lintelo as general manager.

    Previously, te Lintelo worked at Vamed, where he was general manager for the Netherlands and country manager for Sri Lanka. Prior to that, he held managerial positions at LG Philips Displays and BrainCenter, among other firms.

    “With broad knowledge of mechanical engineering, software, robotics and business processes, te Lintelo will further shape ATD Machinery’s ambition to develop partnerships with its customers from Sept. 1, 2020,” ATD Machinery said in a press release.

    Te Lintolo succeeds Cas Disse, who led the company until October 2019. Over the past 10 months, the responsibilities of managing director have been carried out by the board of shareholder Highlands Beheer.

    Based in Hapert, Netherlands, ATD Machinery produces cigar manufacturing machinery.

    In recent years, the company has been broadening its focus to include the construction of machines for other markets. ATD Machinery has also stepped up its service provision, emphasizing upgrading, reconditioning and outsourcing activities.

  • PMI Names New Senior Vice President External Affairs

    PMI Names New Senior Vice President External Affairs

    Illustration: Skypixel | Dreamstime

    Philip Morris International (PMI) has appointed Gregoire Verdeaux as senior vice president of external affairs effective Sept. 1, 2020. Verdeaux will report to the company’s CEO, Andre Calantzopoulos.

    “Gregoire’s range of experiences—from working for national and EU parliaments and governments, the UN, WHO [World Health Organization] as well as private companies undergoing significant transformation—has given him a unique understanding of how political decisions are made,” said Calantzopoulos. “This makes him an ideal candidate to join us at PMI and help adapt the regulatory environment applicable to reduced-risk products as we continue our transformation to a smoke-free company.”

    Verdeaux joins PMI from Hering Schuppener where he was a partner. Prior to that, he served as group international policy director at Vodafone. Prior to Vodafone, he served as European policy director at Electricite De France. He also served at the local level as deputy head of the cabinet of the French president, as administrator to the French senate and cabinet adviser to the minister of foreign affairs and to the European Commission. Additionally, he held the positions of director of strategy and finance at Unitaid for the WHO and manager in the United Nations Development Program.

    Verdeaux holds degrees from Universite D’Auvergne, the University of Oklahoma and Sciences Po.

    His appointment follows the previous announcement of long-serving executive Marc Firestone’s intention to retire from the dual roles of president of external affairs and general counsel and the appointment of Suzanne Rich Folsom as senior vice president and general counsel.

  • Cushman Named General Counsel

    Cushman Named General Counsel

    Brittani Cushman

    Turning Point Brands (TPB) has appointed Brittani Cushman as general counsel, effective Oct. 31. James Dobbins, TPB senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, will retire that day following more than 20 years leading the company’s legal and governance functions.

    Cushman currently serves as senior vice president of external affairs in the company’s legal department. She joined TPB as director of external affairs in 2014. During her tenure with the company, Cushman has been a key driver of initiatives related to the company’s policy strategy and regulatory filings along with advising on significant acquisitions, TPB wrote in a statement. Prior to joining TPB, Cushman served as general counsel at a privately held tobacco product manufacturer.

    “James has been an invaluable resource for our growing organization during his tenure with the company, including the successful initial public offering in 2016,” said Larry Wexler, president and CEO of TPB. “The board of directors and executive team thank James for his leadership and service to the company. I am particularly pleased that he has agreed to remain with the company in a consulting role.”

    Cushman will assume the role of deputy general counsel immediately, working with Dobbins to ensure a seamless transition ahead of his departure.

    “Brittani has been a critical piece of our leadership team,” Wexler commented. “Since joining the company, her unique skillset and forward-thinking contributions have strengthened the business. Brittani’s ability to diagnose and respond to evolving legal landscapes will be a significant factor to our continued success.”

  • Tant to Retire From Imperial Brands

    Tant to Retire From Imperial Brands

    Oliver Tant (Photo: Imperial Brands)

    Imperial Brands Chief Financial Officer Oliver Tant will retire from the company once a successor is found, reports Reuters.

    The move comes just a month after Stefan Bomhard, a former executive of car dealer Inchcape joined the cigarette maker as chief executive officer.

    In May, Imperial Brands cut dividend for the first time since listing in 1996 as it looks to save cash amid the coronavirus pandemic and reduce its £14 billion ($18.31 billion) debt.

    Imperial Brands is reportedly looking for an external replacement for Tant, who has been CFO since November 2013.

    Imperial Brands reported revenue of £35.56 billion ($47.16 billion) in its fiscal year 2020, up from £31.59 billion in 2019. Its operating profit was £2.73 billion, compared with £2.2 billion the previous year. On an adjusted basis, the company’s revenue was £7.99 billion in 2020, down 0.1 percent from 2019. Adjusted operating profit was £3.53 billion, against £3.74 billion the previous year.

    While benefiting from strong tobacco volumes, Imperial Brands said it suffered from a sub-optimal product and market mix in 2020. However, a more disciplined approach in next-generation products reduced second-half losses after a disappointing first six months, the company added.

  • Meldrum to Succeed Oberlander at RAI

    Meldrum to Succeed Oberlander at RAI

    Guy Meldrum (Photo: BAT)
    Ricardo Oberlander

    Ricardo Oberlander will step down as president of Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) and from the management board on Aug. 31, 2020. He will leave the BAT group at the end of the year. Oberlander has been with the group for almost three decades, over seven years of which as a member of the management board, firstly as regional director of the Americas and then latterly leading Reynolds American. Oberlander steps down to pursue other opportunities.

    Guy Meldrum, currently regional director of Asia-Pacific and Middle East, will succeed Oberlander as president of Reynolds American effective Sept. 1, 2020.

    Michael (Mihovil) Dijanosic, currently area director of Asia-Pacific, will be appointed regional director of Asia-Pacific and Middle East, replacing Meldrum.

    “I am grateful for the drive and leadership that Ricardo has brought to the group throughout his career and for leaving the Reynolds American business in such robust shape,” said BAT Chief Executive Jack Bowles. “I would like to thank Ricardo for his significant contribution over the last three decades, including over seven years as a member of the management board. We all wish him the very best for the future.

    “Guy’s extensive experience with BAT over the last 26 years, including a number of senior roles in Australasia, the North Asia Area, Russia and his recent experience in leading the Asia-Pacific and Middle East Region, will serve him well to further drive the transformation of Reynolds American.

    “I am delighted to welcome Michael, who has over two decades of experience with the group, to the management board. He has held a number of senior leadership roles in Asia-Pacific across different markets and has been a member of the regional leadership team since 2012. This in-depth knowledge of the region positions him extremely well to succeed Guy.”

  • Former PMI Strategist to Lead Taat Lifestyle

    Former PMI Strategist to Lead Taat Lifestyle

    Taat CEO Setti Coscarella
    Setti Coscarella (Photo courtesy of Taat Lifestyle & Wellness)

    Taat Lifestyle & Wellness has appointed Setti Coscarella as its chief executive officer as the company prepares for the launch of its Beyond Tobacco cigarettes in the fourth quarter of 2020.
     
    Previously, Coscarella was a lead strategist for reduced-risk products (RRPs) at Philip Morris International (PMI). His leadership and execution at PMI led to the launch of numerous initiatives that collectively yielded a fivefold increase in leads and purchases for RRP.
     
    Beyond Tobacco cigarettes contain a proprietary blend of tobacco flavoring but no nicotine and no tobacco. The product has been designed to offer a user experience that closely resembles that of smoking a traditional cigarette, featuring a familiar traditional “stick” format and cigarette-style packaging.
     
    Each stick contains at least 50 mg of cannabidiol, which has been shown to mitigate tobacco withdrawals and reduce dependency upon tobacco. Beyond Tobacco is to be offered in an “original” and a menthol variety.
     
    “The molecule in our tobacco-free and nicotine-free cigarettes is delivered in a near-identical format to legacy tobacco products, and I strongly believe that smokers would be eager to make the switch if presented with the option,” said Coscarella.
     
    “The early-stage market research results for Beyond Tobacco reflect an extraordinary reception of the product among smokers, and I am very eager to be in the driver’s seat of Taat as we approach the planned launch of Beyond Tobacco in Q4 2020.”

  • Juul Appoints New Board Members

    Juul Appoints New Board Members

    Juul Labs CEO K.C. Crosthwaite will also become chairman of the company’s board, succeeding co-founder Adam Bowen, reports Bloomerg. Bowen, who became Juul’s first chairman when Crosthwaite joined the company last fall, will head up the product committee.

    Juul also appointed Teresa Sebastian, an executive with financial and compliance expertise, to join its board as the company seeks to reset its business and diversify its ranks.

    Sebastian is the first black member of the company’s eight-person board. In May, Juul added former Canadian Health Minister Rona Ambrose as an independent director, making her its first female board member.

    The changes come at a pivotal moment for Juul, with corporations under pressure to promote diverse voices and Juul trying to shore up its finances and win regulators’ permission to keep selling its e-cigarettes in the U.S.

    “We are all aware that our company is entering a critical period,” Bloomberg quoted Crosthwaite as saying. “With the support and oversight of our increasingly robust board, we will deliver our first PMTA submissions to the FDA, while continuing the work of combating underage vaping and transitioning adult smokers all around the world from combustible cigarettes.”

    Applications with the Food and Drug Administration are due Sept. 9.

  • Warren elected as a USTC Director

    Warren elected as a USTC Director

    USTC produces U.S. flue-cured tobacco grown by member in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. (Photo courtesy of USTC)

    Lindsey Warren has been elected as a director of U.S. Tobacco Cooperative (USTC) by members District 10. Warren will serve for a three-year term commencing immediately and ending on April 30, 2023.

    A resident of Lunenburg County, Virginia, USA, Warren has shown dedication to the cooperative as a member since 1982 and is currently farming several crops on more than 3,000 acres at Warren Farms, according to USTC.

    “We are happy to have Mr. Lindsey Warren on our team and look forward to working with him,” the cooperative wrote in statement.”

  • Ballard Joins Vector as Technology Officer

    Ballard Joins Vector as Technology Officer

    Image: Skypixel | Dreamstime.com

    Vector Group has appointed veteran industry operations and technology leader David Ballard as senior vice president of enterprise efficiency and chief technology officer. In this newly created role, Ballard will be responsible for seeking out new technologies and operational efficiencies for the company and its subsidiaries. Ballard has served as a consultant to the company since February 2020.

    “We are delighted to welcome David to the company,” said Howard M. Lorber, president and chief executive officer of Vector Group. “With over 30 years of experience, David will bring to our management team a level of technology and operations expertise that will be highly addictive. In this rapidly evolving industry landscape, bringing aboard a visible and respected leader of his caliber underscores our commitment to remaining at the forefront of technology and digital operations.”

    Ballard most recently served as senior vice president of enterprise services of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services. Prior to joining Ladenburg, Ballard served as president and chief operating officer for Docupace Technologies. Ballard was previously the executive vice president and chief operating officer at Cetera Financial Group and held management positions at several firms in the independent financial advisory and asset management industries, including AIG Advisor Group, SunAmerica Mutual Funds and AIG Retirement Services.

  • Chowdhery to Head INNCO

    Chowdhery to Head INNCO

    Samrat Chowdhery

    The International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organizations (INNCO) has appointed Samrat Chowdhery as its president, reports APN News.

    A former journalist, Chowdhery has been spearheading tobacco harm reduction activities in India as the founder of the Council for Harm Reduced Alternatives and the director of the Association of Vapers India.

    Chowdhery was honored with the “Advocate of the Year” award at the Global Forum for Nicotine in Warsaw in June 2018. In May, Chowdhery spoke to Tobacco Reporter about the vapor business in India.

    “While harm reduction is a well-accepted intervention strategy in many fields, from addiction treatment to pandemic response, it is finding uncharacteristic opposition in tobacco use, which kills 8 million people every year,” said Chowdhery. “Our goal is to ensure consumers have a say in the framing of global tobacco policies as they are affected the most by them.”

    A global body of 34 national advocacy groups with UN observer status, INNCO represents consumers of low-risk, alternative nicotine products, and promotes tobacco harm reduction at the global stage.