US
A former tobacco industry executive is taking over as c.e.o. at 22nd Century Group, the Clarence-based company whose technology allows nicotine levels in tobacco to be manipulated.
Clifford B. Fleet, a former president and c.e.o. of Philip Morris USA who has been a strategic adviser to 22nd Century Group since December, was named president and c.e.o. of the Clarence company less than a week after Henry Sicignano III resigned from the post, citing personal reasons.
22nd Century Group is hoping its ability to manipulate nicotine levels in tobacco will allow it to develop a smoking cessation product based around cigarettes with very low levels of nicotine. The company is working to gain regulatory approval for its smoking cessation product from the US Food and Drug Administration and hopes to eventually be able to commercialize its own line of very low nicotine cigarettes. The company also is using its technology in the hemp and cannabis industries.
Fleet served as president of Philip Morris USA from 2013 to 2017. Since then, he has been managing partner of a management consulting business in Richmond, VA.