Jacksonville, FL (February 6, 2022) – Swisher announced today it has named Gary Gastel as Executive Vice President of Marketing to lead the 162-year-old company’s marketing and branding strategies.
As EVP of Marketing, Gastel oversees brand marketing and marketing operations, and creative services for Swisher’s iconic and market-leading family of brands. Gastel leads a team of experts to drive product and consumer growth, and innovation across Swisher’s portfolio. This includes the legendary Swisher Sweets Cigar Company, Rogue Holdings tobacco leaf-free Nicotine on Demand® products, Hempire natural hemp products, and Fat Lip smokeless brands.
“Gary’s experience leading marketing efforts for national and international brands lends itself well to Swisher as we embark on bold plans for strategic growth in 2023 and beyond,” said Swisher President & CEO Neil Kiely. “He is a leader who brings a tool kit of successful and innovative strategies that will strengthen Swisher’s legendary portfolio and accelerate our expansion into new categories.”
Gastel brings global marketing leadership experience to Swisher, having steered strategy and delivered growth for several leading brands in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry. A native of Bogota, Colombia, he holds a master’s in business administration from Georgetown University, a bachelor’s in finance from University of Miami, and Executive Education from Columbia University and the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University.
Gastel joins the Swisher Executive Leadership Team helmed by Kiely who was named President and CEO in 2022.