Category: People

  • Juul Labs Hires Wisdom as Managing Director

    Juul Labs Hires Wisdom as Managing Director

    Credit: Cyberuss

    Juul Labs has appointed Melissa Wisdom as its new managing director.

    Wisdom comes from the Stonegate Group, where she served as chief commercial officer. Prior to that, she also served as a commercial director at Diageo, and held senior positions at prominent national and global brands.

    In her new role, Melissa will oversee all of Juul Labs U.K commercial activities as the company seeks to bring its next-generation product technology to more parts of the world.

    “Joining Juul Labs as its new managing director is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the company’s bold vision for the future—one where long-term success is achieved through responsible innovation and investment in high-quality, scientifically-supported products,” said Wisdom in a statement.

    “I look forward to advancing Juul’s commercial objectives across this rapidly changing industry to ensure we are delivering the best possible alternatives for adult smokers, whilst taking serious action to prevent underage access to and appeal of our products.”

    “We are thrilled to welcome Melissa Wisdom as Juul Labs’ new managing director,” said Juul Labs CEO, K.C. Crosthwaite. “Melissa’s extensive commercial experience and her commitment to responsible growth in consumer markets make her an invaluable addition to the team.

    “With new U.K. legislation coming down the track and the regulatory environment evolving in many markets, Melissa’s leadership will play a pivotal role in advancing our efforts to drive tobacco harm reduction by offering adult smokers high-quality product technology designed specifically to help them move away from traditional cigarettes.

    “I am confident that Melissa will be a huge asset at this exciting time of opportunity for the company.”

  • BAT Announces Major Management Board Changes

    BAT Announces Major Management Board Changes

    BAT has announced management board changes. Kingsley Wheaton will be appointed as chief corporate officer, a newly created role. Wheaton’s current role of chief strategy and growth officer will cease to exist.

    As chief corporate officer, Wheaton will have overall responsibility for the strategy and execution of the group’s sustainable future pillar, including:

    • Establishing broad acceptance of BAT’s tobacco harm reduction (THR) agenda, working with BAT’s director of research and science, James Murphy, to ensure the scientific basis for harm reduction and encouraging a fact-based discussion on nicotine among key stakeholders;
    • Shaping the landscape through responsible and transparent dialogue with regulators, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders; and
    • Enhancing BAT’s leadership in sustainability and integrity.

    Paul McCrory, director of corporate and regulatory affairs, will continue to report to Wheaton in this role. Donato Del Vecchio, chief sustainability officer, will also continue to report to Wheaton.

    Luciano Comin, marketing director for combustibles and new categories, will be appointed chief marketing officer, reporting directly to Tadeu Marroco, CEO.

    James Barrett, director of business development, will report to Soraya Benchikh, chief financial officer.

    All changes are effective immediately.

    “We will be taking an important step later today in our journey to encourage THR acceptance with the launch of a compelling science and evidential case for THR in the form of ‘The Omni: Forward Thinking for a Smokeless World,’” said Marroco.

    “I would like to thank Kingsley for all that he has done as chief strategy and growth officer. He has stepped into the role at a critical time for BAT and has helped shape the strategy and establish new functional capabilities. In all of these areas, BAT is now stronger and more robust.”

    “I feel honored to take up this new challenge,” said Wheaton. “As BAT moves forward toward ‘A Better Tomorrow,’ the focus on this area of the strategy will be all-important. I am looking forward to bringing my experience and understanding of both BAT and the external environment and making a real difference.”

  • Burbidge Joins Global Action to End Smoking

    Burbidge Joins Global Action to End Smoking

    Global Action to End Smoking appointed Cole Burbidge as a new director of programs. With a distinguished career in advancing public health in underserved communities, Burbidge brings a wealth of experience that will support the organization’s grantmaking work, according to the organization.

    Burbidge is a physician by training and a strong advocate for patient-centered care, understanding firsthand the gaps between idealized healthcare models and the reality faced by patients. His career has been dedicated to improving health outcomes for recreational substance users and high-risk patients.

    At Global Action, Burbidge’s main roles will be developing requests for grant proposals and evaluating prospective research projects. He will also be supporting the communications team as it disseminates relevant information to people who smoke. He will report to Erik Augustson, vice president of programs.

    “I’m excited to continue my work in improving public health through my new role at Global Action,” said Burbidge in a statement. “I am deeply passionate about meeting individuals where they are to make sure that a healthier lifestyle is effective and accessible.”

    Burbidge’s experience spans consulting roles with healthcare organizations, pharmaceutical companies and risk-reduction advocacy groups as well as leadership positions in industry, where he oversaw teams in scientific and regulatory affairs.

    “Dr. Cole Burbidge is a strong addition to our team at Global Action,” said Augustson. “His expertise and passion for patient-centered care will be invaluable as we continue our mission to end smoking. Dr. Burbidge’s focus on innovative, data-driven solutions aligns perfectly with our goals, and we look forward to the impact he will have on our programs.”

  • CTP Office of Management Gets Brandt as Director

    CTP Office of Management Gets Brandt as Director

    Credit: Otseira

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center For Tobacco Products (CTP) is pleased to announce that Erin Brandt will serve as director of CTP’s Office of Management.

    Brandt currently holds the position of deputy director in CTP’s Office of Management.

    “Brandt has more than a decade of experience working in leadership positions in administrative management,” the CTP stated in a release. “She has extensive experience overseeing a wide range of administrative services, including human capital, information technology, financial management, administrative management, acquisitions and grants, ethics, facilities, and risk management and analysis.”

    Brandt joined CTP in 2013 as the Office of Management’s Management analysis officer, and became the deputy director in 2014, a position she held until assuming her current role as acting director.

    Before joining FDA, Brandt was a management analyst at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and worked for several non-profit organizations, including Global Philanthropy Alliance, World Resources Institute, and Habitat for Humanity as an AmeriCorps VISTA.

    She earned a master’s of Public Policy from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs and holds a bachelor’s of Science in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

    Brandt was selected after an extensive nationwide search, multiple interview panels that evaluated a substantial and well-qualified applicant pool, and clearance through important FDA ethics and security processes. CTP is excited for Ms. Brandt to continue her service with CTP, with an effective date of June 16th.

  • Executive Appointments Made at Ispire Technology

    Executive Appointments Made at Ispire Technology

    Photo: Ink Drop

    Ispire Technology has appointed Jim McCormick chief financial officer. The company also announced the appointments of John Patterson as senior vice president of international nicotine; Dennis Lider as senior vice president of cannabis product sales; and David Hessler as senior vice president of operations.

    McCormick has more than three decades of diverse leadership experience to his new role. He started his career in public accounting with KPMG Peat Marwick in 1989, transitioning to consumer goods with Mid-America Pepsi-Cola and later joining BAT’s associate company Brown & Williamson Tobacco in 1992. At BAT, he held various international general management and CFO positions across Europe, South America, Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Northern Africa.

    Patterson has more than 25 years of extensive experience in the tobacco and next-generation nicotine categories, spanning both U.S. domestic and international markets, notably in the U.K. and the EU. Beginning his career at Altria, Patterson has since held pivotal roles across Europe for Philip Morris International, NJOY and most recently Juul Labs, where he served as senior director and country manager for the United Kingdom.

    With more than 20 years of CPG sales leadership experience, Lider boasts over a decade of executive leadership in revenue management. Since 2019, he has held senior-level positions with publicly traded cannabis companies, overseeing wholesale, retail and distribution sales functions. Lider brings a wealth of experience in international market expansions, corporate business development, global sales management and channel diversification.

    Hessler, senior vice president of operations, began his career in California’s shipping industry after graduating from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He went to Moscow in 1992, where he spent two decades in the global cigarette industry with PMI and JTI. Hessler led At JTI’s global supply chain organization’s customer service department in Geneva, managing operations across 190 markets with over 5,000 SKUs.

    “We’re thrilled to announce this significant talent upgrade at Ispire as we gear up for rapid expansion both domestically and internationally,” said Ispire Co-CEO Michael Wang in a statement.

  • John Verbeten to lead CTP Compliance Office

    John Verbeten to lead CTP Compliance Office

    Image: Tada Images

    John Verbeten is the new director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Tobacco Products’ Office  of Compliance and Enforcement.

    Verbeten has more than 20 years of experience leading field operations, compliance and enforcement, and national-level program management. In his latest role within Office of Import Operations, Verbeten served as the principal advisor to the Office of Regulatory Affairs’ (ORA) leadership on import operations and enforcement activities, and oversaw the FDA’s field import operations, which includes a staff of more than 700 people.

    He also provided leadership in the development, implementation and evaluation of new laws, regulations and policies related to ORA’s global and national programs and activities.

    Most recently, he led the agency’s development of a memorandum of understanding between the FDA and U.S. Postal Service (USPS), which established a framework that provides a basis for the development of bilateral data exchange and provides the FDA access to the USPS advanced electronic data for imported mail shipments.

  • Charlotte’s Web CBD to Elect 2 New Board Directors

    Charlotte’s Web CBD to Elect 2 New Board Directors

    Photo: Mariakray

    Charlotte’s Web Holdings will elect new directors at its annual meeting on June 13. The company has proposed reducing the number of directors from seven to six.

    The following directors’ terms on the company’s board of directors will expire effective June 13, 2024, and they will not stand for reelection:

    • John D. Held, who joined the board in May 2018 and serves as chairperson of the board and chair of the corporate governance and nominating committee;
    • Thomas Lardieri, who joined the board in August 2022 and serves on the corporate governance and nominating committee and as chair of the audit committee;
    • Alicia Morga, who joined the board in December 2022 and serves on the audit committee and the compensation committee.

    “Charlotte’s Web is grateful for the valuable contributions and guidance that each of these directors have provided during their time on the board. Their expertise and dedication have been instrumental in navigating through critical phases of our transformation in a challenging unregulated category,” said Charlotte’s Web CEO William Morachnick in a statement.

    The board has proposed to nominate the following current directors for reelection:

    • Jonathan Atwood, group head of business communications for BAT;
    • Matthew E. McCarthy (independent), former CEO and board member of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade and senior executive at Unilever;
    • Angela McElwee (independent), former president and CEO and board member of Gaia Herbs;
    • William Morachnick, Charlotte’s Web CEO and former president at Santa Fe Reynolds Tobacco International in Zurich, Switzerland.

    In addition, the board has proposed to nominate Jared Stanley and Maureen Usifer as new appointments to the board.

  • CTP Hires Director of Health Communication and Education

    CTP Hires Director of Health Communication and Education

    Courtesy: US FDA

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) has hired Anne Rancourt as its next director of CTP’s Office of Health Communication and Education.

    Rancourt comes to CTP from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) where she serves as the Communications Director.

    Rancourt has more than two decades of experience working in strategic communications, behavior change programs and journalism, including nearly 14 years within the federal government, according to a release.

    At NIDA, Rancourt is responsible for managing the communication branch that oversees the dissemination of a nearly $2 billion scientific research portfolio on substance use and addiction, including tobacco and e-cigarette use.

    She also advises the Institute director on communication strategies, informing agency leaders on broad public health, education, and scientific policy matters and issues.

    Prior to her tenure at NIDA, Rancourt led press outreach and media strategy on HIV as a Communications Section Chief at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

    Earlier in her career, Rancourt led media and digital outreach strategies for The Heart Truth campaign at NIH’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

    Rancourt was selected after an extensive nationwide search, multiple interview panels that evaluated a substantial and well-qualified applicant pool, and clearance through important FDA ethics and security processes.

    She will begin the new position on May 19th.

  • Schmidt Joins Chemular as Senior Consultant

    Schmidt Joins Chemular as Senior Consultant

    Rachael Schmidt

    Chemular, a provider of regulatory and compliance solutions to the tobacco, nicotine, and medical device industry, announced that Rachael Trimpert Schmidt has joined the company as a senior consultant.

    “I am excited to join the Chemular team,” says Schmidt. “I’ve spent a large part of my career immersed in the tobacco industry, identifying issues and opportunities, while shaping its policies through my work with the FDA and the Center for Tobacco Products. I look forward to taking an active role with Chemular and helping its customers pave a smooth path to compliance.”

    Schmidt joins the team from her recent position with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, where she served as assistant director of Laboratory Compliance & Coordination of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). In that role, she was responsible for establishing and coordinating all FDA tobacco regulatory laboratories in support of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

    At CTP, she was a key leader, responsible for developing and executing all tobacco product testing programs, including pre-market application reviews, post-market compliance, and adverse events, to support FDA’s tobacco regulatory mission, according to a press release. In her more than 12 years at the CTP, Schmidt engaged with both national and international partners to harmonize tobacco enforcement.

    “Schmidt brings a wealth of knowledge to our team,” says Jason Carignan, chief commercial officer for Chemular. “She’s been deeply involved with developing and implementing regulations within the tobacco industry for many years and has a sharpened ability to identify and address emerging issues. This firsthand experience will ensure that Chemular stays at the forefront of compliance initiatives, and that our customers can launch and keep their products on the market. She is going to be a valuable asset to Chemular and supporting our customers through her insights and action.”

  • Turning Point Brands Hires Flynn to Fill CFO Role

    Turning Point Brands Hires Flynn to Fill CFO Role

    Credit: Motortion

    Turning Point Brands has announced the appointment Andrew Flynn as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer, effective on or before April 1, 2024.

    Flynn is replacing Louie Reformina, who will step down to pursue other opportunities, according to a Turning Point press release.

    “Andrew has led key initiatives across all areas of finance and broader strategic planning throughout his career,” said Graham Purdy, Turning Point Brands president and CEO. “His diverse operating background and industry expertise ideally positions him to help us maximize the value of our brands, continue to modernize our organization, and grow our free cash flow.”

    Prior to joining Turning Point Brands, Flynn served as the CFO of Connected Cannabis Co. where he was responsible for bringing sustained profitable growth, expanding geographically and recapitalizing the company. Before joining Connected, Flynn served as Sr. vice president of Juul Labs.

    “Turning Point Brands is one of the most innovative and well-capitalized companies in the industry. TPB’s iconic Zig-Zag and Stoker’s brands and market-leading distribution platform set it apart in this rapidly evolving space,” said Flynn. “As CFO, I look forward to working with the Board and management team to maximize long-term shareholder value.”