Swedish Match, one of the world’s largest cigar companies, announces that its Executive Vice President Lennart Freeman will be retiring after 30 years with the company this March. Freeman is currently President of the Lights Operating Units, and prior to that served as President of Swedish Match International (SMI).

If you’re not familiar with Mr. Freeman, then perhaps you’ve heard of some of his accomplishments throughout the tobacco industry. As the newly named VP for Swedish Match AB in 2005, Freeman oversaw the company’s global cigar business, which included General Cigar, the maker of some of the world’s biggest premium cigar brands, including Macanudo, La Gloria Cubana, Punch, Partagas and many others. In September 2009, Freeman successfully completed a major restructuring of that operating unit, resulting in the sale of the South African business to Philip Morris International. He was also a part of the team to successfully execute the merger of the cigar and pipe tobacco businesses with Scandinavian Tobacco Group in October, 2010, creating one of the largest cigar companies in the world.

Mr. Freeman, from all of the cigar lovers out there, we salute you – for the large global impact you’ve made on the world of premier tobacco products. Now, we hope you can sit back, relax and enjoy a nice cigar. You’ve earned it!

Sources: Swedish Match.com, cigaraficionado.com

“With the onslaught of anti-tobacco ordinances and legislation, the coalition of traditional competitors are coming together to combat further intrusion into their businesses, to oppose measures that can impact the product choices of their patrons, to address the cost of both doing business in New York, and the cost of goods to their customers,” says  The Cigar Rights of America,

So what kind of hurdles have been put in their path? In New York City, for example, Council passed legislation back in October 2009 that put a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco, including cigars. Also last year, Council considered the idea of  an outdoor smoking ban at city parks and beaches, and “recently forced retailers in the city to display graphic images warning about tobacco use,” according to Cigar Aficionado.

What are your thoughts? How friendly do you think the state of New York is to cigar smokers and businesses?