RICARDO CARIONIDirector of International Affairs & EducationPremium Cigar Association (PCA)Co-Founder – The Cigar Academy
Ricardo Carioni is an international executive whose career brings together diplomacy, business leadership, education, and more than 19 years of experience across markets in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East. He currently serves as Director of International Affairs and Education at the Premium Cigar Association (PCA), the largest, most active, and longest-standing association in the premium tobacco industry. In this role, he leads initiatives aimed at expanding the organization’s international presence, strengthening cooperation among markets, and raising professional standards across the industry.
As Co-Founder of The Cigar Academy, Ricardo has made education and the preservation of cigar culture a central part of his work. Today, The Cigar Academy serves as the PCA’s education and certification platform, with a program developed in collaboration with leading producers and industry experts from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Mexico. Its certification — the first formal cigar certification endorsed by renowned producers and brands — was designed to establish a global standard of professional knowledge encompassing the history, cultivation, production, appreciation, service, sales, and culture of premium cigars.
Before joining the PCA, Ricardo held executive positions within the international cigar industry, including Chief Operating Officer of Tor Imports in the United Kingdom, CEO of Gesinta / La Casa del Tabaco in Spain, and Strategic Development Advisor to Casa Turrent in Mexico. Earlier in his career, he served in diplomatic roles as Deputy Ambassador of Nicaragua to the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Iceland, and represented his country before international organizations.
His professional background also includes international leadership positions in trade, technology, and global companies such as TripAdvisor and William Hill, giving him a unique perspective on the evolution and opportunities within the premium cigar industry.
During the 2026 Puro Vida Cigar Festival, Ricardo will personally conduct The Cigar Academy by PCA certification course, offering participants the opportunity to earn, in Costa Rica, a credential backed by the leading association in the industry and based on a program recognized as a global reference in premium cigar education.
More than an introduction to the world of cigars, this will be a structured educational experience that connects knowledge, craftsmanship, history, culture, appreciation, and service. The program aims to prepare both industry professionals and enthusiasts to understand and represent premium cigars with greater depth, knowledge, discernment, and authority.
