Selim Hanono Returns to E.P. Carrillo as Chief Operating Officer

E.P. Carrillo has announced that it has hired Selim Hanono as its new chief operating officer, a role that will see him focusing on quality control, the launch of new products and optimizing operations for what the company says are “ambitious plans for 2025 and beyond.”

“Selim’s return is a tremendous opportunity for E.P. Carrillo as we focus on the next phase of our evolution,” said Ernesto Perez-Carrillo III in a press release. “His leadership, operational expertise, and passion for quality and innovation will help us continue delivering exceptional cigars while meeting the growing demands of our customers.”

This is the second time that Hanono will hold the coo title at E.P. Carrillo, as he was with the company from early 2019 until December 2020.  He brings a vast amount of cigar industry experience to the position, as he has also served as the coo of AJ Fernandez and a decade with Drew Estate, where he worked in a variety of roles for the company, including overseeing its trade show and other large events, managing an in-house sales team and assisting the company’s international operations.

After departing E.P. Carrillo at the end of 2020, Hanono left the cigar industry, taking a position at Greenlane Holdings Inc., a consumer goods company serving the cannabis, CBD and liquid nicotine markets. In November 2022, he joined Michael Cellucci, another cigar industry veteran who was the president of Drew Estate for four years, in the launch of Full Spec Brands, a nationwide, full-service brand accelerator servicing the specialty retail class of trade with a focus on smoke shops, independent gas and convenience stores, and new age wellness retail locations.

“I’m honored to rejoin E.P. Carrillo, a company I have always admired and respected,” said Selim Hanono via a press release. “This is an exciting time for the brand, and I look forward to working with the extraordinary team to build on its success and continue creating cigars that captivate and inspire enthusiasts around the world.”