Patrick Hurd, Kretek’s Chief Sales Officer, Announces Departure
Kretek International, Inc. has announced the upcoming departure of Patrick Hurd, the company’s chief sales officer.
Hurd joined the company in November 2000 while launching its Canadian subsidiary, Kretek Canada, and under his leadership as general manager, Kretek Canada experienced extensive growth for 11 years, according to a press release. In June 2011, Hurd moved to the United States to launch Kretek International’s Ventura Cigar Company and serve as its general manager. In 2013 he was promoted to vice president of sales, and to chief sales officer in 2017.
According to a statement, Hurd is leaving the company for personal reasons, namely to rejoin his family in Toronto, Canada. Commuting back and forth has become infeasible due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on international travel.
“Patrick has been a vital member of our executive team and a significant contributor to the growth of our proprietary brands,” said Sean Cassar, president of Kretek International, via a press release. “He will be missed, but as a family business we appreciate the decision he’s made to focus on his family during these unprecedented times.”
Hurd is expected to enter into a consulting agreement with Kretek in the coming weeks that will become effective upon his departure. Kretek has not yet announced a successor for the chief sales officer position.
“Leaving a family business as strong and tightly knit as Kretek is never an easy decision, but my own family is obviously my priority, and that means I need to be back home with them in Canada,” said Hurd in a statement. “I also look forward to seeing my industry peers and customers at TPE 21 in Las Vegas, May 12-14, 2021 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.”
Image courtesy of Kretek International, Inc.
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 Major League Baseball, 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.
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