Tobacco Industry Vet Freudenthal Joins Imperial Tobacco Group

Kevin Freudenthal has been named president and CEO for Commonwealth - Altadis Inc. and region director for the Americas at Imperial Tobacco Group (ITG). He succeeds Graham Bolt, who retired from the company at the end of December.

Freudenthal will take overall responsibility for Commonwealth - Altadis from Eric Workman, senior vice president of marketing, at the end of the month.

Freudenthal has 26 years of industry experience and has made a career out of leadership and innovation in marketing tobacco products, the company said, working with large teams, crafting business strategy and improving profitability.

Before joining ITG, he was vice president for category management for Altria Group, and before that, spent two decades in executive positions at U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co., where he began his career as a territory representative.
"Kevin is one of the most seasoned and successful tobacco executives, and we look forward to him being onboard starting on January 30. He will lead our efforts to complete the integration for CA as well as our mission for growth in the U.S. market," said Workman.

Freudenthal has been a member of the Tobacco Outlet Advisory Group, UST Retail Advisory Group, Texas Grocers & Convenience Association, California Grocers Association, National Association of Convenience Stores, and American Wholesales Marketers Association. He has also sponsored the CSP Executive Council and the Network of Executive Women.

Signature brands sold by Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Commonwealth - Altadis include USA Gold, Fortuna and Sonoma cigarettes, Phillies, Dutch Masters and Backwoods and White Cat cigars.

United Kingdom-based Imperial Tobacco Group has 51 manufacturing sites, around 38,000 employees and operates in more than 160 markets.