Hail & Cotton Announces Andy Spies as President & CEO and Names New Executive Committee
SPRINGFIELD, TN, Aug. 11, 2026 – Hail & Cotton has announced the appointment of Andy Spies as President & Chief Executive Officer, alongside the formation of its new Executive Committee, marking an important milestone in the company’s continued growth and long-term strategic vision.
Andy brings more than three decades of leadership experience to his new role, having served as President of Hail & Cotton’s International Division for the past 12 years. During these years, he led the company’s global footprint expansion across key tobacco-producing markets – Brazil, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Asia and was instrumental in broadening and strengthening key customer relationships.
As President & CEO, Spies will focus on advancing the company’s identified strategic priorities, increase customer partnerships, and building on Hail & Cotton’s reputation for quality, reliability, and sustainable growth.
“I am excited about the opportunity to lead Hail & Cotton into its next chapter and into what I believe is its true potential,” said Andy Spies, President & CEO. “Together with our talented team and experienced leadership group, we will continue building on our strong foundation while delivering exceptional value to our customers, partners, growers, and employees around the world.”
In conjunction with Spies’ appointment, Hail & Cotton has named its new Executive Committee:
- Patricia Rietveld – Chief Financial Officer
- Brad Price – Executive Vice President, North America Operations
- Richard Wood – Executive Vice President, Dark Air Cured Operations
- Chris Cooksey – President North America Operations
The new Executive Committee combines extensive industry knowledge with deep operational expertise to support Hail & Cotton’s global business. Together, the leadership team will drive operational excellence, focus on consolidating customer partnerships and ensure we deliver the quality, service, and expertise customers have trusted for more than a century.