The Cigar Association of America (CAA) announced Friday that its board of directors has elected Terry Gallagher Jr. as the association’s new chairman. He succeeds Javier Estades, effective immediately.
Gallagher (pictured above) is president of Boulder, Colorado-based Smoker Friendly. He is a longtime industry executive with decades of experience in the cigar and tobacco sectors.
The Washington, D.C.-based association elected three additional officers:
- Eric Newman of Tampa-based J.C. Newman Cigar Co. as vice chair
- Carrie Freed of Greensboro-based ITG Brands as treasure
- Henry Roemer of PT Djarum, Indonesia, as secretary
“I am excited to work alongside this talented and experienced leadership team,” said Gallagher. “Together, we will continue advocating for reasonable, cigar-specific regulation, defending the rights of adult consumers, and ensuring the rich heritage of premium cigars endures for future generations.”
CAA President Scott Pearce thanked Estades for his work on behalf of the entire cigar industry.
“I want to express our deepest gratitude to Javier Estades for his extraordinary leadership, wisdom, and unwavering dedication over the past nine years,” Pearce said. “Javier leaves the association stronger, more focused, and better positioned to protect and promote the cigar industry.”
Estades said in a statement that is has been a privilege to serve as chairman of the CAA.
“I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together and have complete confidence in Terry Gallagher, Jr. and the new officers to work with our president, Scott Pearce, to lead CAA forward with strength and vision,” he said.
- The Cigarette Store/Smoker Friendly is No. 26 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of top convenience-store chains by size in the United States.
Founded in 1991, Smoker Friendly, Boulder, Colorado, now owns and operates over 340 stores in 13 states. The Cigarette Store is the largest licensee of Smoker Friendly International, and the largest tobacco store retailer in the United States, operating a mix of tobacco stores, cigar lounges, liquor stores and fueling locations under the Smoker Friendly, Tobacco Depot, Smoke ‘N Go, Havana Manor and Gasamat banners, in addition to its e-commerce site, paylesscigarsandpipes.com.
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