People on the Move
NATIONAL REPORT – LOGIC Technology welcomed Tony Gaines to its executive team. As chief customer officer, he will provide comprehensive insight on customer relations and strategy to maximize customer acquisition, retention and profitability for the electronic cigarette developer.
Gaines is a consumer packaged goods industry veteran with more than 22 years of wholesaler and customer sales experience within the drug, dollar and convenience channels. Previously, he was with Anheuser-Busch as vice president of sales – small format, where he led the drug, convenience and dollar channel customer teams. Prior to Anheuser-Busch, Gaines was with E.&J. Gallo Wine Co. as the national director, customer development in charge of the convenience channel, as well as served in management roles and several wholesaler positions.
Along with his new role at LOGIC Technology, Gaines will continue his work as a NACS Supplier Board Member and NACSPAC and Research Committee Member, while continuing to act as an ambassador to the industry.
In other people news:
FIN Branding Group
FIN Branding Group appointed Timothy Walsh as its new director of sales, effective immediately. He will be responsible for developing, implementing and overseeing national sales initiatives, working closely with FIN’s marketing department to effectively grow the e-cigarette company’s distribution footprint.
Walsh brings extensive sales and account expertise to FIN, including operational experience gained through a series of positions he held during his eight-year tenure at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc. In his role as director of national accounts, Walsh successfully increased market share, expanded product distribution and introduced supply-chain efficiencies with a number of prominent national outlets.
Additionally, FIN promoted two individuals -- Kevin Klyczek and Doug MacLeod -- to the roles of regional director of sales, Central and Southeast, respectively. In these roles, Klyczek and MacLeod will be responsible for developing, implementing and overseeing national and regional sales initiatives, while working closely with FIN’s marketing department to effectively grow the company’s distribution footprint in their respective geographies.
Klyczek has extensive sales and account expertise, having spent 20 years in various roles selling traditional tobacco products for Swisher International. MacLeod has a diverse background, including experience with E&J Gallo and, most recently Scandinavian Tobacco, before coming to FIN.
JTI USA
JTI USA promoted Renee Duszynski to the new role of national key accounts manager within the Consumer & Trade Marketing group. She will manage the key account business development of the JTI USA portfolio of brands: Wave, Wings and Export ‘A.’
In this role, Duszynski will be responsible for the planning and implementation of the company's key account strategy and the acquisition of new national accounts. In addition, she will act as the primary JTI USA liaison with chain business partners and enhance the tobacco category for those key partners.
The company also named Tom Morris as vice president of national sales within the Consumer & Trade Marketing group. He will manage field sales activities and business development of the JTI USA portfolio of brands. Morris has 21 years of experience in the tobacco industry, starting at Brown & Williamson in 1992.
TravelCenters of America LLC
TravelCenters of America elected attorney Lisa Harris Jones to its board of directors. She is a founding member of the Baltimore, Md.-based law firm of Harris Jones and Malone, and a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Jones has held leadership positions in many community service and civic organizations for which she has received recognitions and awards, including being the recipient of the YWCA Greater Baltimore Special Leadership Award in 2012.
Jones was elected to be an independent director in Group III of TA's board to fill a vacancy created when the board was expanded to six members, including four who are independent directors. She was also appointed to serve on the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, and the Compensation Committee of the TA board. Jones’ current term as a director will extend to the annual meeting of shareholders in 2016.