“Per the association by-laws, the current board of directors had the duty to appoint a good-standing member to fill the role,” the PCA said in a statement. “Based on his experience, service on PCA committees, and overall participation and support for the Premium Cigar Association, the board of directors selected George Rico of Gran Habano to serve the remainder of the three-year term from 2025 to 2028.”

Originally from Medellín, Colombia, Rico has worked in the cigar industry for over 28 years and is the founder, along with his father, Guillermo Rico, of Gran Habano Cigars. “He is renowned for his craftsmanship and dedication to producing high-quality, artisanal cigars. In addition to his cigar blending and manufacturing expertise, Rico is a fourth-generation tobacco farmer with operations in countries like Colombia, Nicaragua, and Honduras,” the PCA said.

The post Gran Habano’s Rico Named to PCA Board first appeared on Tobacco Reporter.

Manolios brings over 25 years of experience in strategy development and human resources to Universal. She held increasing roles of responsibility at Capital One Financial Corporation from 2012 to 2022, most recently as managing vice president.

“We are pleased to welcome Fay to our board,” said Preston D. Wigner, chairman, president, and CEO of Universal. “Fay is an accomplished executive with deep insight into human resources and a track record for helping to develop and reward high-performing organizations. Her expertise aligns with our commitment to setting high standards that benefit all Universal stakeholders, and we look forward to leveraging her insights as we continue to execute on our strategic initiatives across our tobacco and ingredients businesses.”

The post Manolios Added to Universal’s Board first appeared on Tobacco Reporter.