Javier Estades Named Chairman of Cigar Association of America
Javier Estades has returned to a role he knows well. Today Estades—the president and chief executive officer of cigar giant Tabacalera USA Inc.—was elected to a three-year term as chairman of the Cigar Association of America. He previously served as chairman from 2016 to 2020.
Estades moves into the position held for a short time by John J. Miller, who was the president and CEO of Swisher International Inc., the mass-market powerhouse that makes the inexpensive Swisher Sweets, a cigar brand sold in the billions of units. Swisher is also the parent company of Drew Estate, producer of handmade cigars such as Liga Privada and Herrera Esteli. Miller served less than one year as head of CAA; he retired from Swisher last week, putting the CAA in need of a new chairman.
“Javier Estades has always just been one of those people who gets it,” says Cigar Association of America president Craig Williamson. “When he stepped down as chairman, I said that we would miss his leadership, affable demeanor and steady hand, and now I am thrilled to welcome Javier back as our chairman once again.”
“It was an honor to serve as Chairman of CAA and I am excited to once again join my partners in industry to lead this [nearly] century-old association,” says Estades. “We continue to face a perfect storm of regulatory intervention, increasing tax burdens and evolving industry trends. We will have to join together to preserve our industry for future generations.”
The Cigar Association of America is a national trade association representing cigar manufacturers, importers, and distributors, as well as other major suppliers to the industry. It was founded in 1937.
