Oettinger Davidoff AG has appointed Olaf Ruf as the future general manager of the subsidiary it intends to create for Germany, Davidoff of Geneva Germany. The experienced manager comes from the tobacco industry and brings many years of experience in the German market as well as a strong sales and marketing background. He will now apply this to the gradual setting-up and development of the Oettinger Davidoff business in Germany.
Basel/Switzerland, 18th April 2016. Oettinger Davidoff AG, the world-leading producer of premium cigars headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, has appointed Olaf Ruf as the future General Manager and Vice President of Davidoff of Geneva Germany. The 43- year-old German has extensive experience and a close-knit network in the German and international tobacco business that he will put to good use in the development of the German sales company to be established. In the period leading up to the company’s foundation, Olaf Ruf will initially act as an external consultant during the course of the year, and head the planning and preparation for taking over the operative business at the end of the year. As is generally known, in line with the rigorous pursuit of its future strategic orientation, Oettinger Davidoff AG has terminated the existing collaboration with its German sales partner in order to establish its own Hamburg-based subsidiary and exploit the important German market with effect from 1 January 2017.
Its future head looks back on an impressive career in the tobacco and luxury food industry. After schooling and studies in Germany, Great Britain and the USA, Olaf Ruf worked in various internationally active companies in the industry and was a member of the management of Imperial Tobacco and Reemtsma, among others. Most recently, the sales and marketing expert was CEO of SNOKE. “I am now returning to the ‘real’ smoking pleasure and the fascinating world of premium cigars”, says Ruf, talking about his new job. “I am looking forward to putting the experience and network from my previous activities to work in setting up and establishing Davidoff of Geneva Germany.” Ruf is married, the father of two children and enjoys playing tennis and the piano in his spare time.
“Germany is one of the most important markets in the world for Oettinger Davidoff AG,” states Oettinger Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, announcing the appointment of Olaf Ruf. “Competent industry experts are vital for the successful marketing of our portfolio in this market. With Olaf, we have brought one of the most capable of them on board.”
Martin Kaufmann, Senior Vice President Europe & Global Travel Retail, to whom Olaf Ruf will report, has high hopes for the new manager for Germany: “With his in-depth knowledge of the business, the German market and his international background, Olaf is a valuable addition to the Oettinger Davidoff AG European management team. I am confident that Olaf will bring a totally new momentum to our business in Germany. I am very much looking forward to a close and successful collaboration.”
The present country manager for Germany, Mario Samec, will continue to act as a link to the current sales partner Arnold André until the end of the year, while simultaneously setting up the new sales structure with Olaf Ruf, as a future member of his management team.
About Oettinger Davidoff AG
The CHF 1.23 billion Oettinger Davidoff AG, with over 3,600 employees around the world, traces its roots back to 1875 and remains family-owned to this day with two distinctly different businesses: one that is focused on FMCG distribution in the Swiss market and another dedicated to the core business of producing, marketing and retailing premium- branded cigars, tobacco products and accessories. The premium-branded cigar business includes Davidoff, AVO, Camacho, Cusano, Griffin’s, Private Stock, Zino and Zino Platinum. The Oettinger Davidoff AG business is anchored in a strong “crop-to-shop” philosophy, having pursued vertical integration from the tobacco fields in the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua to the worldwide network of over 70 Davidoff Flagship Stores that complement a network of strong Appointed Merchants around the world.
