Edgar Cullman

During his more than thirty years in operating roles at General Cigar and Culbro Corporation, Edgar M. Cullman Jr. faced both favorable and unfavorable business conditions and learned how to lead in both those circumstances.For instance, in his early career, the cigar industry began a slow decline that lasted nearly 20 years, while in his later years the cigar industry had a tremendous revival. During this time, he not only took a hands-on approach to General Cigar but also helped lead the company into other diversified businesses. Mr. Cullman’s unusual operating experience adds exceptional value to his role as a managing member of Culbro, LLC.Mr. Cullman joined General Cigar in 1974 after spending time in the US Army and as a management trainee for Manufacturers Hanover Bank. Like his father, he believed strongly in the importance of learning the tobacco business from the ground-up and began his career working in Puerto Rico, where the company sorted Connecticut wrapper, and Hartford, Connecticut where this wrapper is grown. Later he learned cigar manufacturing at the company’s operations in Kingston, Jamaica, Tampa, Florida and Philipsburg, Pennsylvania.After absorbing all aspects of the cigar and tobacco business, including marketing and sales, Mr. Cullman rose to president of General Cigar in 1980 and subsequently to president of Culbro Corporation, the corporate parent of General Cigar, in 1984. Mr. Cullman became CEO of Culbro Corporation in 1996.Mr. Cullman is on the boards of Mount Sinai Hospital, the visiting committee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brain Trauma Foundation, the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Yale University Council.He is a graduate of the Hotchkiss School (’64) and Yale University (’68).