Ike Karipides is the new SVP of Sales at Drew Estate, reporting directly to Glenn C. Wolfson, CEO. He succeeds David Lazarus who retired at the end of January after a very successful seven-year run.
Ike joined Drew Estate in January 2018 as Director of the Specialty Retail channel, followed by responsibility for Online Retail and most recently as Vice President Direct with overall responsibility for the company’s Specialty Retail, Online Retail, and Liquor Chain sales channels. In his new role, Karipides will also oversee the company’s Wholesale sales channel as well as the Trade Marketing and Business Intelligence departments.
Glenn Wolfson exclaimed:
“Ike has amassed deep expertise in various facets of the premium cigar industry during his 28-year career. He is a consummate professional who is highly respected by colleagues, competitors, customers, and consumers throughout our industry.
Ike’s strategic acumen, operational excellence, and change management capabilities will enable him to lead our sales organization to even greater heights, as Drew Estate continues to evolve and grow over the years to come.”
Jonathan Drew, President and CMO of Drew Estate said:
“Ike is unique. His industry leadership, knowledge of the premium cigar business, and passion for Drew Estate culture results in explosive talent, contributing tremendously throughout our organization in a relatively short tenure. It’s an honor to work with the man, who I also consider a dear friend.”
Ike initially cut his teeth in the retail side of the premium cigar business at Cousin’s Cigars and Barclay-Rex, in Cleveland and Manhattan, respectively. Subsequently, he learned the wholesale/distribution side of the business at House of Oxford Distributors and then began his journey in field sales at Miami Cigar & Co. Immediately prior to Drew Estate, Ike worked at Nat Sherman International as Executive Director of Premium Cigar Sales and spent nearly six years building a field sales team from the ground-up to support the sales and distribution of the venerable brand.
About Drew Estate
Founded in 1996 in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, Drew Estate has singlehandedly defined modern-day cigar culture through a hard-hitting, authentic, bottom-up approach to lifestyle branding and culture building. Our mission and manifesto is “The Rebirth of Cigars,” which we amplify through our uncanny authenticity and high energy. With deeply-loved brands produced at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Estelí, Nicaragua, such as: ACID, 20 Acre Farm, BLACKENED Cigars, Deadwood Tobacco Co., Factory Smokes, Herrera Estelí, Isla del Sol, Kentucky Fire Cured, Liga Privada, Nica Rustica, Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigars, Tabak Especial and Undercrown; as well as the celebrated Barn Smoker, Cigar Safari and Freestyle Live experiential events, Drew Estate appeals to the entire premium cigar sector and beyond. Learn more about our story and our brands by visiting Drew Estate’s website.