Swisher Forms Sister Company to Focus on Vaping

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Swisher International Inc. is responding to the changing demands of tobacco consumers with the formation of a new company, E-Alternative Solutions (EAS).

As a sister company to Swisher, EAS is focused on developing, marketing and distributing electronic vaping solutions in the fast-growing e-alternative market. John Miller, Swisher's senior vice president of sales and marketing, will also serve as the CEO of EAS.

"We have been carefully reviewing the e-cigarette space for a while through market research, customer feedback and in-depth reviews of the technological landscape. Thanks to Swisher International's world-class capabilities, in combination with the best-in-class team we are assembling to lead EAS, we have the ambition to become a market leader in the evolving e-alternative category — just as Swisher has in the tobacco market for over 150 years," Miller said.

Jacopo D'Alessandris will serve as the new EAS president. D'Alessandris has almost 20 years of marketing and general management experience in consumer packaged and electronics goods products. Most recently, he served as chief marketing officer for the consumer division of Philips North America. 

Prior to joining Philips in 2006, D'Alessandris was a global executive at L'Oréal for 10 years in various leadership roles in Europe and Latin America.

"The e-cigarette and vapor space has been growing rapidly, but is still in its infancy. Breakthrough technology and innovative marketing, coupled with Swisher's expertise in the tobacco space, will be the key ingredients I will focus on to build EAS' success," D'Alessandris said.

Initially, EAS will offer two proprietary liquid vapor product lines. The products are currently being tested in select markets and sold online. These liquids, which are used in electronic vapor devices, are manufactured in the United States. 

Swisher International Inc. is a manufacturer of cigars, filtered cigars and smokeless tobacco brands. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville and also has manufacturing facilities in Wheeling, W. Va., and Santiago, Dominican Republic.