Cigar Industry

Cigar Rights of America Executive Leaving Organization

Apr 23, 2020 | By Chris Esposito
Cigar Rights of America Executive Leaving Organization
Photo/Jacob Kepler
J. Glynn Loope addresses the audience of the 2019 Big Smoke event in Las Vegas.

J. Glynn Loope will be leaving his post as executive director of Cigar Rights of America (CRA) on November 4, 2020, the day after Election Day. Loope has led CRA since 2008.

“It has been a privilege to champion the rights of adult consumers to enjoy a premium cigar,” said Loope. “I am very proud of the work that CRA has accomplished giving a voice to the premium cigar community at the federal, state, and local levels.”

The CRA has tens of thousands of adult consumers as members, plus more than 800 premium cigar retailers, and 75 manufacturers/distributors of premium cigars. The CRA is one of the organizations fighting for the rights of cigar smokers.

“CRA is more than a job, it is a mission,” said Loope. “For almost a dozen years, we have built a national network together that can take this work into the next decade and beyond. This has been accomplished with a dedicated staff and hundreds of volunteers, for which I am thankful and express my sincere appreciation. I remain committed to supporting and advocating for the premium cigar industry, given that the threats confronting it are the new normal.”

There is no plan to name a successor. Throughout the next six months, Loope will work with the board and staff to ensure a smooth transition.

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