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Since joining the electronic cigarette market in 2009, Blu eCigs has been growing rapidly. According to the company, it now holds 40% of the retail market share and its products can be found in some 80,000 retail locations. This has been largely due to support the company has received since being acquired by Lorillard (makers of Kent and Newport cigarettes) in April of last year.

The company announced this week that it is bringing in a new president, Jim Raporte. Founder and now ex-president Jason Healy is said to be staying on in a consulting capacity for Raporte. Healy certainly got the company to where it is now, but often what got you to one place won’t keep you there or help you get to the next. Raporte is no doubt part of a retooling effort to set up Blu for the long haul. It was a company designed and geared primarily towards growth. With the important part of growth out of the way, it can focus more on expanding market share and grow more organically as the e-cig market as a whole grows.

Disclaimer: Blu eCigs is an affiliate of EcigAdvanced.

According to the release from Blu, its first quarter revenues for this year broke $57 million. If this is indeed a $1 billion year for the industry, Blu could be a $250 million company by the end of the year.

Raporte comes with more than 30 years experience in business touching on both tobacco and food. His LinkedIn profile marks past companies as Richardson Brands (foods, mostly candy) and Philip Morris (tobacco). This could mean Blu has plans to break into flavors or at least has a backup plan if flavors are ultimately allowed to exist without the meddling of the FDA.

It will be interesting to see where the company goes from here.