La Palina has announced that Sam Phillips and Clay Roberts have both joined the company, being named president and chief operating officer, respectively, as well as being made partners. Both changes are effective immediately. “I am excited to bring in Sam and Clay to lead our team,” said Bill Paley, La Palina’s owner, in a statement. “The company is making many changes and innovating in the super-premium cigar category. Sam and Clay will lead this evolution as their primary responsibility.” He went on to call the additions part of his plan to put together a dream team of executives to lead La Palina into its next phase. Both Phillips and Roberts have numerous years in the cigar industry; Phillips joined the industry in 1996 with Indian Tabac, which would become Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, and then spent four years with Alec Bradley as the vp of marketing. Phillips had been serving as a corporate consultant to La Palina since February 2015. Roberts was most recently with Alec Bradley Cigar Co.; he entered the cigar industry with Rocky Patel Premium Cigars as well and spent time with A.J. Fernandez. “This was an opportunity that this industry just doesn’t present, and it was a curious opportunity that I had never ...
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