Mo Maali has stepped away from his role as national sales manager of Mombacho Cigars S.A., but it doesn’t mean his Patina Cigars brand is parting ways with the factory that makes them.
Maali and Claudio Sgroi, president of Mombacho Cigars S.A. confirmed the change, though both said the relationship between Patina Cigars and Casa Favilli, the Granada, Nicaragua factory where both brands are made, will continue. The change was made as a result of Patina’s growth and Maali’s increasing attention and focus on his brand.
Maali was appointed to the sales manager position in May 2017, while still overseeing his own Patina Cigars brand, which debuted that same month. In addition to his work with Patina and Mombacho, Maali also worked as the manager of Casa de Puros, a retail store in Forest Park, Ill., and was the founder of the blog Sultans of Smoke.
Mombacho Cigars has not yet named a replacement for Maali, though Sgroi told halfwheel he will be focusing on filling the position following the upcoming IPCPR Convention & Trade Show.