MOORPARK, Calif. -- Tobacco company Kretek International Inc. has named Sean Teninty as trade marketing director.
He will report to chief marketing officer Jason Carignan and will work directly with Kretek regional sales directors in structuring and communicating Kretek's 2015 trade programs to the sales force and broker organizations.
"Sean brings a wealth of packaged goods experience to Kretek. We expect our customers will feel the difference in timely process improvements moving forward," said Patrick Hurd, Kretek vice president of sales.
Teninty previously served as trade marketing manager of Northridge Calif.-based Pharmavite, where he was director of customer marketing for the Nature Made brand. He joined Kretek in July of this year to put in place new trade planning and programs for the company. Previously, he held positions at Del Monte, Quaker Oats and Frito Lay.
In other company news, Kretek has named Kevin Newman as director of marketing of Phillips & King International Inc., its specialty tobacco distribution company.
He will report to P&K general manager Sergio Montolfo, and oversee the marketing of Kretek proprietary brands.
"Kevin has demonstrated a strong grasp of Kretek brand issues as they apply to Phillips & King's business growth. We're always happy when we can offer someone greater responsibilities in the company," said Carignan.
Newman previously served as marketing manager of P&K's Ventura Premium Cigar division. He joined the company in 2012 to develop web and social media programs for Ventura Cigar and Ultimate Superfoods, Kretek's organic foods company.
Founded in 1905, P&K is an independent distributor of cigars to retail stores in the United States. With more than 15,000 SKUs, it is licensed in all 50 states and sells directly to a network of more than 15,000 tobacconists and smoke shops, discount tobacco shops and other independent retailers, including convenience stores.
P&K's product line ranges from premium handmade imported cigars and cigar accessories, pipes and pipe tobaccos, specialty cigarettes such as Nat Sherman and Dunhill, plus make-your-own (MYO) and roll-your-own (RYO) tobaccos and premium cigar lighters. In addition to more than 100 brand-name premium cigars from other importers, P&K maintains several proprietary brand names it purchases exclusively from cigar makers in Nicaragua, Honduras and the Caribbean.
Moorpark, Calif.-based Kretek is a privately held importing and marketing company with business concentrated in the specialty tobacco, other tobacco products (OTP) and e-vapor categories. Kretek is the exclusive importer and marketer of Voodoo and EZ Cig e-vapor products including e-cigarettes, personal vaporizers, and e-liquids, as well as Djarum and Cuban Rounds imported cigars, Nuvino wines, DjEEP disposable lighters and a full range of handmade premium imported cigars, pipe tobaccos and smoking accessories. It also distributes VirMax, a male enhancement brand of products.
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