Plasencia Cigars has a new chief executive officer. In a press release, the company announced that Edward (Ed) Bello would be joining the company as the new CEO, effective April 1, 2025. Bello will work closely with the current CEO, Jim Young, to ensure a smooth transition. After a three-month transition period, Young will continue to support Plasencia Cigars and Bello as a board member and advisor.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Ed to the Plasencia business as CEO. Our family and partners have enormous confidence that he is the perfect fit to head our efforts to develop and grow our beloved brand to fulfill its potential and keep lighting up souls. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Jim for stepping in as CEO when he did and for his ongoing commitment to Plasencia,” commented Nestor Andres Plasencia.
Bello worked in the beverage alcohol industry, including 15 years at Diageo and 13 years at Procter & Gamble. Most recently, he was the chief marketing officer of Catalyst Spirits, LLC, a start-up brand incubator. Before that, he led Diageo’s luxury spirits business unit in North America. This came after senior roles leading the company’s global marketing efforts in the whiskey and vodka segments, including managing the Bulleit and Ketel One brands.
At Plasencia, Bello will lead the effort to take the premium cigar brand to the next level. “I am delighted to join Plasencia Cigars and am excited to help the company fulfill the amazing future that the Plasencia brand clearly possesses,” commented Bello. “I am humbled that the Plasencia family place their trust in me to lead this effort and the amazing team already in place. I look forward to working closely with the family, with Jim, and with the team to fulfill the promise that the Plasencia brand clearly holds.”