Juan Ignacio Martínez: executive president of Joya de Nicaragua S.A, a family-owned tobacco grower and cigar factory. Although Juan was exposed to tobacco from an early age, it wasn’t until later in his life that the came into this business. He is an Economist from training and entrepreneur by heart.
Juan joined Joya de Nicaragua in late 2007, and after holding various (boring) consulting positions, decided to support his father and the family in growing Joya de Nicaragua. He began slowly getting to know the business, in production under the mentorship of Leonel Raudez, learned sales with Mario Perez, finance and in 2013 was officially name Executive President responsible of overseeing JDN’s international expansion, technological development and most importantly, portfolio evolution.
Juan was president of the Nicaraguan Chamber of tobacco between 2015 and 2017, helping solidify Nicaragua’s tobacco industry worldwide recognition. He currently lives in Nicaragua with his beautiful and funny wife Amanda, and his three crazy kids, one dog, 2 birds, one hamster, 5 fish and a recently departed bunny.
Established in 1968, Joya de Nicaragua is the first and most authentic premium handmade cigar manufacturer from Nicaragua.
Based in Estelí, many regard Joya De Nicaragua as the patriarch creator of the Nicaraguan cigar industry, and its cigars are sold in more than 80 countries around the world.
The company’s commitment to quality, along with its skilful and resilient people, have been rewarded with industry recognition more than once as Factory of the Year in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Joya de Nicaragua, with it's Cuatro Cinco cigar, was the first Nicaraguan cigar to ever win the prestigious UK Cigar of the Year in 2016.
