Former Head of Cubatabaco Dies

David Savona
Posted: October 15, 2009

Francisco Padron, who oversaw Cuba's cigar industry from 1985 to 1995, died on October 5 in Cuba. The cause of death, according to sources, was prostate cancer.

Padron served as director of Cubatabaco, then Cuba's cigar export organization, before it was renamed Habanos S.A. He pushed the Cohiba brand to the forefront of Cuba's cigar portfolio, oversaw the creation of the Cohiba Siglo line of cigars and led the Cuban cigar industry through the cigar boom of the mid-1990s before retiring.

"He had a great marketing mind and was a very positive ambassador for Cuba and Cuban cigars," said Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Cigar Aficionado. "He was a good man."

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