Grace Sotolongo Leaves CLE Cigar Company

The face of the Hechicera brand has left CLE Cigar Company. Grace Sotolongo informed halfwheel that effective immediately she was no longer part of the company headed by Christian Eiroa.

“After working with CLE for the past year, I leave knowing I have made many friends, learned from the best, and gained my wings to pursue my next endeavor,” said Sotolongo in a provided statement. “I have only kind words for the help and guidance of Christian Eiroa and the CLE Team.”

Sotolongo joined the company last July after spending a few years working for My Father Cigars, Inc. She launched the Hechicera brand last year and the company recently announced its second release, the Hechicera Maduro. The trademark for Hechicera is owned by CLE Cigar Company.

“We will still keep the concept, because I like the concept,” said Eiroa when reached by phone. “What I felt that was happening, the brand was being buried under Asylum and everything else at CLE.”

CLE Cigar Company distributes the Asylum, CLE, EH Cigars, Eiroa, Gentili Hechicera, Patoro, Pura Soul and Wynwood brands. Robert Caldwell, the face of Wynwood, left the company late last year.

(Featured image via Instagram.)