Jim Young Leaves Davidoff

Jim Young, one of the longest-tenured members of Davidoff’s management team, has left the company after nearly a decade. His most recent role was chief commercial officer for Oettinger Davidoff AG.

His tenure was best known for his time as president of Davidoff of Geneva USA, the company’s American subsidiary, a role he began in mid-2011. During that time, Davidoff revamped almost every part of its business as part of a broad modernization effort. The transformation started shortly before Young’s arrival as the company moved U.S. headquarters from Connecticut to Pinellas Park, Fla. just before he joined Davidoff.

Then, Davidoff began the integration of Camacho—which was acquired in 2008—as well as a systematic rework of its brands. In 2013, Davidoff simultaneously showed off a completely new-look Camacho while also introducing the new Davidoff Nicaragua, the first of what would be a gradual makeover for the company’s eponymous brand.

There was also an expansion of its American retail stores including new locations in Atlanta, Houston and New York; as well as franchise stores in Las Vegas and Tampa.

Young—who had spent time working from Europe during his time at Diageo—took on the role of chief commercial officer in the spring 2018, which saw him leave his role as head of the American business and move to Europe.

“I thank Jim for his dedication and contribution to our company during his 10 years with us and wish him all the best for the future,” said Beat Hauenstein, ceo of Oettinger Davidoff AG, in an internal memo. “I would like to let you know that I have decided to take the global commercial business to the next chapter in order to deliver on the objectives of the ‘Way Forward’ Transformation Roadmap. We will inform you in due course on the new leadership.”

The memo described Young’s departure as “immediate.”