22nd Century Group said Joseph Pandolfino has stepped down as chief executive and board chairman at the biotech specialist in a management shuffle that will see current President Henry Sicignano head tobacco related business.

Pandolfino will remain on the Board of Directors and negotiations are underway to make him chief technology officer at the New York-based company. James Cornell was elected chairman of the board. A search is underway for a new chief executive officer, 22nd Century said. Sicignano, a former executive at Reynolds American subsidiary Santa Fe Natural Tobacco, will assume the duties of chief operating officer.
“Now that 22nd Century is on the cusp of product sales in the US, Europe and Asia, it is important for the company to have an executive of Mr Sicignano’s experience in this additional role as chief operating officer, the company said.
During Pandolfino’s tenure, 22nd Century developed proprietary technologies through genetic engineering and plant breeding to raise or lower nicotine levels in tobacco plants. Group holdings include a manufacturing unit, Goodrich Tobacco and Hercules Pharmaceuticals, which makes a prescription smoking cessation product.