Heinrich Villiger, Head of Villiger, Dead at 95

[JohnS]

Heinrich Villiger, Head of Villiger, Dead at 95

July 28, 2025 - Charlie Minato

Henrich Villiger, the longtime leader of his family’s cigar company, passed away at the age of 95.

The company announced that Villiger died peacefully on Friday, July 25.

“It is with gratitude that we bid farewell to our father Heinrich Villiger, who has led the Villiger family business strategically and operationally with great commitment for 75 years,” said Corina Villiger, his eldest daughter and member of the board. “He loved cigars and cigarillos – and was a passionate entrepreneur and courageous visionary, setting a lasting mark on the tobacco industry in Switzerland and beyond. Our father leaves a big gap; the privilege of continuing the tradition of the family business in the fourth and fifth generations means a lot to us.”

Villiger served as the chairman of the board of Villiger Söhne Holding AG. He determined that he should be succeeded by an independent board member and not one of his four descendants. Jvo Grundler, who has served as vice-chair since 2020, will succeed him as chair.

“Heinrich Villiger was an old-school patron who inspired employees, customers and business partners with his unique expertise, innovative spirit and entrepreneurial thinking. We will miss him very much,” said Grundler. “At the same time, I feel obliged and honoured to successfully develop the Villiger Group’s long-term strategy – together with the Board of Directors, the Executive Board and the teams worldwide – in the spirit of the entrepreneur Heinrich Villiger and his family.”

Heinrich Villiger was part of the third generation of ownership and joined the family business in 1950; he gained sole ownership of the family’s companies in 1989. Villiger, the company, is best known for its mass-market cigars, though during Heinrich’s tenure, the company expanded into premium cigars. In addition to its eponymous cigars, Villiger is also the co-owner of the Cuban cigar distributors for Austria, Germany, Poland and Switzerland.

The company produces around 1 billion cigars annually across its factories in Brazil, Indonesia, Nicaragua and Europe, and generates around 140 million Swiss francs ($175 million) in revenue.

Source: https://halfwheel.com/heinrich-villiger-head-of-villiger-dead-at-95/453265/

[JohnS]

Heinrich Villiger: 1930–2025

Few people had as much global reach in the cigar world as Heinrich Villiger

 Jul 28, 2025 - By Gregory Mottola 

Photo/David Yellen 

A major figure in the world of cigars has passed away. Heinrich Villiger, owner of Switzerland-based tobacco powerhouse Villiger Söhne AG, died on Friday, July 25 at 95 years old. In a 2018 interview, this magazine called Villiger one of the most formidable players in the cigar industry—and he was. He worked in the family business for 75 years, a company that today produces more than a billion dry-cured European-style cigars every year. He was the exclusive importer and distributor of Cuban cigars to five countries in Europe; he built handmade cigar factories in Nicaragua and Brazil; and he owned a large portfolio of premium cigar brands sold in the United States and abroad. Between Villiger’s machine-made products and handmade cigars, his company exported to 80 countries worldwide.

The operation was started by Villiger’s grandfather in 1888 as a cigar manufacturer in Switzerland. Heinrich worked alongside his father and uncle until his uncle sold his share to his father. Eventually, Heinrich’s father died, making him the sole shareholder. He joined the company in 1951 and became very active in purchasing tobacco for his machine-made cigars, which were sold in Europe and then in the United States after World War II. Some of that tobacco was from Cuba, and Villiger was able to form an unusually strong relationship with Cuba that lasted until the day he died.

By 1989, Villiger established 5th Ave Products Trading GmbH, which became the exclusive importer of Cuban cigars for Germany, Austria and Poland. He was also a partial owner of Intertabak AG, which distributes Cuban cigars in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. But Villiger started making inroads in the U.S. market when he started Villiger Cigars North America in 2016, which manufactures and distributes brands such as Villiger Nicaragua, Villiger 1888 Gran Reserva, Villiger San D’Oro Colorado, Cuellár Caribe and La Libertad.

The company announced today that the Villiger Group will remain family-owned. Former vice president Jvo Grundler has been named chairman of the board of directors. Villiger’s eldest daughter, Corina, is an active part of the company, and a member of the board. She will continue to represent the family on the board committee, along with Villiger’s eldest grandson, Lucien, and Rolf Kaufmann.

Corina said in a statement: “It is with gratitude that we bid farewell to our father Heinrich Villiger, who has led the Villiger family business strategically and operationally with great commitment for 75 years. He loved cigars and cigarillos—and was a passionate entrepreneur and courageous visionary, setting a lasting mark on the tobacco industry in Switzerland and beyond. Our father leaves a big gap; the privilege of continuing the tradition of the family business in the fourth and fifth generations means a lot to us.”

During our 2018 interview, Villiger sat down and shot several videos at the Cigar Aficionado offices. Click here to see him discussing his love of cigars, in his own words.

Source: https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/heinrich-villiger-1930-2025

[JohnS]

Tobacco Patron Heinrich Villiger Passed Away at the Age of 95

July 28, 2025 - Press Release

Heinrich Villiger passed away peacefully on 25 July 2025 at the age of 95, his family announced today. Heinrich Villiger was an active Chairman of the Board of Villiger Söhne Holding AG and Villiger Söhne AG until the end and was the third generation of the cigar manufacturer’s tradition. Under his leadership, Villiger successfully developed into a renowned international company.

Corina Villiger, eldest daughter, and member of the Board of Directors of the Villiger Group: “It is with gratitude that we bid farewell to our father Heinrich Villiger, who has led the Villiger family business strategically and operationally with great commitment for 75 years He loved cigars and cigarillos – and was a passionate entrepreneur and courageous visionary, setting a lasting mark on the tobacco industry in Switzerland and beyond. Our father leaves a big gap; the privilege of continuing the tradition of the family business in the fourth and fifth generations means a lot to us”.

Corina Villiger and Heinrich Villiger’s grandson Lucien Villiger have been active on the Board of Directors for many years already and will continue to represent the family on this committee, in addition to Rolf Kaufmann. 

With immediate effect, Jvo Grundler, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Villiger Group since 2020, will take over as Chairman. As part of the succession planning, Heinrich Villiger had determined that the chairmanship should be taken over by Jvo Grundler as independent board member as well as trusted advisor to balance the interests of the four descendants and their families. Jvo Grundler is a lawyer and member of various boards of directors and foundations.

“Heinrich Villiger was an old-school patron who inspired employees, customers and business partners with his unique expertise, innovative spirit and entrepreneurial thinking. We will miss him very much.”, Jvo Grundler said. “At the same time, I feel obliged and honoured to successfully develop the Villiger Group’s long-term strategy – together with the Board of Directors, the Executive Board and the teams worldwide – in the spirit of the entrepreneur Heinrich Villiger and his family.” 

Source: https://www.cigarjournal.com/tobacco-patron-heinrich-villiger-passed-away-at-the-age-of-95/

[Ford2112]

I am a fan of these cheapies from Villiger. Not sure what that has to do with the articles. These are good with a cup of joe.