DAVIDOFF OF GENEVA USA NAMES NEW MARKETING AND COMMERCIAL HEADS

Basel (CH) / Pinellas Park (USA) - September 3, 2019 –– Davidoff of Geneva USA, the US based subsidiary of Oettinger Davidoff AG, is pleased to announce two important changes effective today: Lana Fraser, Director Brand Marketing, has been appointed Director, Head of Marketing for Davidoff of Geneva Americas. Jeffrey Guagliardo, Director Key Accounts, has been named Director, Head of Sales for Davidoff of Geneva USA. Both Lana and Jeffrey succeed Dylan Austin who had the dual role of heading Sales and Marketing for the company before being named President of Davidoff of Geneva USA in March 2019. This significant development will properly position the company for the new realities of the US premium cigar business, where deeper insights, demand creation, and a tightly linked marketing / commercial mix have become increasingly important.

Lana Fraser will lead strategic and day-to-day oversight of the company’s entire brand portfolio and marketing team for the Americas business, which includes North America, LATAM and the Caribbean. In addition, Lana will continue to lead marketing for Davidoff of Geneva since 1911, both retail stores and the online business.

Dylan Austin, President of Davidoff of Geneva Americas commented: “Since joining Davidoff in 2016, Lana has made significant contributions and delivered unquestionable impact for the US business and our retail partners. Mrs. Fraser is performance driven and a remarkable team leader. With her appointment as Director, Head of Marketing for the Americas, we will confidently strengthen the position of our brands and our company within the marketplace, enhance our partnership with retail stakeholders, and set our teams up to win now and in the future.”

Lana Fraser said: “I am proud to accept my appointment as the new Head of Marketing, leading one of the most innovative and exciting marketing departments in the industry. Our iconic brands are rooted in the heritage of our founder Zino Davidoff, a pioneer and visionary who relentlessly pushed the envelope with groundbreaking ideas and products. It is with this same passion and spirit that I will lead this talented team.”

Jeffrey Guagliardo, who became part of the Davidoff family in 2009 after the acquisition of Cusano Cigars, has held various roles within the company, predominately within the commercial department. In his previous role, Head of Key Accounts and In-House Sales, Jeffrey was responsible for the company’s large Catalog / Online, Wholesale, Liquor and Chain accounts; along with Canada, managing the company’s In-House Sales team and private label business. 

“Jeffrey Guagliardo has leveraged his industry experience, leadership skills and entrepreneurship to deliver outstanding results since joining the company," stated Dylan Austin, President of Davidoff of Geneva USA. “He has an amazing capacity to navigate complex challenges and deliver quick, thoughtful and impactful solutions. In addition to being a natural leader, these important skills are what have made him successful throughout his career with our company, and will now be driven throughout the entire commercial organization. Mr. Guagliardo will further strengthen our critical Indispensable Business Partner platform, fuel added value for our retail partners and shape the way forward for our commercial team.”

Jeffrey Guagliardo commented: “I am honored to take over the role as Head of Sales for Davidoff of Geneva USA. In the past 15 years I have had the privilege to work with great leaders who have given me the opportunity to grow and understand the complexities of this ever-evolving industry. We have strong brands supported by an impressive commercial team that I am excited to lead in today’s challenging environment. I look forward to working closer with our industry partners and continuing to build on the growth we have all achieved together over the past several years.”

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