Jon Carney, formerly the vice president of sales at La Flor Dominicana, has been appointed to lead Bentley Tobacco | USA, the newly established American division of the German-based Bentley Tobacco.

Bentley Tobacco, which is not affiliated with the car brand, is headed by Martin Schuster, son of Phillip Schuster, who manages August Schuster GmbH & Co. KG. The Schuster family, based in Bünde, Germany, has been involved in the tobacco industry for over a century, acting as distributors for several American brands, including CLE, Drew Estate, La Flor Dominicana, and RoMa Craft Tobac.

Carney, who recently concluded more than a decade as La Flor Dominicana’s vice president of sales, will be responsible for establishing Bentley Tobacco’s presence in the U.S. market. The company’s portfolio includes premium cigars made in Nicaragua, small cigars, and pipe tobacco.

“We are delighted to have found the perfect distribution partner for our Bentley products in Jonathan Carney,” said Martin Schuster in a press release. “With his extensive executive experience, leadership, and passion for premium cigars, we couldn’t have chosen a better partner to introduce our products to American aficionados.”

Carney echoed the sentiment, saying, “We are excited to form the Bentley Tobacco | USA group and bring the Bentley Tobacco brands to the American market. This partnership perfectly aligns with our values and vision. Together, we share a deep passion for quality and a strong commitment to meeting the sophisticated tastes and expectations of our customers.”

Although Carney has not been assigned a formal title, he will oversee U.S. operations for Bentley Tobacco. Additionally, he is transforming The Purveyors, a project he initiated during his time at La Flor, into a marketing agency focused on the cigar industry.