Plasencia Cigars has promoted Javier Carranza to vice president of sales for the United States, placing the 10-year company veteran in charge of its U.S. sales organization and commercial strategy.
Carranza joined Plasencia in 2016 as U.S. national sales director, when the family-owned tobacco company was beginning to build its branded portfolio in the American market. During the decade that followed, he helped develop the national sales team, expand distribution and establish relationships with premium cigar retailers and other industry partners.
In the expanded role, Carranza will focus on retailer partnerships, sales-team development, distribution strategy and long-term growth while maintaining the brand’s premium positioning.
“Javier has been an integral part of Plasencia’s journey in the United States, helping build our branded business from its earliest days,” Plasencia Cigars CEO Ed Bello said in announcing the promotion. Bello cited Carranza’s leadership, industry knowledge and commitment to retail partners as key contributions to the company’s growth.
Néstor Andrés Plasencia said Carranza believed in the family’s vision from the beginning and has become part of the Plasencia family during his tenure. Carranza, in turn, credited Plasencia’s team and its retail partners for supporting the company’s U.S. development.
Born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and raised in Miami, Carranza has approximately 12 years of premium cigar industry experience. Before joining Plasencia, he held positions with Gurkha Cigars, House of Emilio and AJ Fernandez.
Plasencia Cigars traces its tobacco-growing history to 1865 and operates farms and factories in Nicaragua and Honduras. Its products are sold in more than 80 countries.
