Erik Espinosa has announced that he has hired Jack Toraño to be the new director of sales for Espinosa Premium Cigars.

“I’ve known Jack for years, he will bring a different dynamic to the company and having him on board is a perfect fit for us,” said Espinosa in a press release. “Jack will be a huge asset, traveling the country, promoting the brand, reaching new customers and growing existing accounts.”

Toraño had been most recently been with General Cigar Co. where he worked in the marketing department supporting the Toraño line as a brand ambassador. General purchased the Toraño line in 2014, and brought him on board in mid-2016. General Cigar Co. recently made several cuts to its marketing department, one of which included Toraño.

In addition to working with General, Jack Toraño also worked for his family’s company before the purchase as well as Roberto Duran Premium Cigars.

“It’s no secret that I’ve been a big fan of Erik and Espinosa Cigars for a long time,” said Toraño in a press release. “We came close to collaborating on a cigar in 2014 and I’ve always remained very close to the Espinosa team. Working for Espinosa Cigars is something I’ve thought about for years. The time has finely arrived and I’m so excited about this new chapter in my life and look forward to helping continue to grow this wonderful brand.”

Toraño will be traveling throughout the country and overseeing Espinosa representatives and brokers as well as coordinating cigar events and festivals nationwide.

“I am very excited about this move because Jack brings us immediate customer credibility and another strong sales presence alongside Erik’s,” said Hector Alfonso Sr., director of operations for Espinosa Premium Cigars. “His rapport with consumers, as well with sales staff will be very impactful. I am very excited about 2019, very excited.”

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.