Leo Wijnbelt Joins CLE Cigar Co.

Leo Wijnbelt, a veteran of the tobacco manufacturing industry, has joined CLE Cigar Co.

CLE announced that he will work at the company’s factory in Danlí, Honduras: Havano Cigars, previously known as The CLE Factory.

Wijnbelt’s career has involved stops at three of the largest companies in the larger cigar industry. He spent more than seven years at General Cigar Co., rising to become the director of tobacco purchasing for the company. Wijnbelt then spent a dozen years at Inetab-Kaubeck S.R.L., Universal Corp.’s leaf sorting and sales facility in Moca, Dominican Republic. In 2016, he joined Swisher Dominicana, the operation that produces billions of Swisher Sweet cigars per year, as its director of tobacco.

“I look forward to this new challenge in my career. Tobacco is all I have done in my career, so when Christian (Eiora) asked, it was an easy decision, “said Wijnbelt in a press release.

Wijnbelt’s title will be plant manager, though Eiroa said he will oversee the company’s entire tobacco operation.

“Leo arrives to us as we continue our expansion of the factory and our farming operations,” said Eiroa.