Greg Booth to retire at Zippo Manufacturing, Mark Paup to succeed him at iconic lighter firm

The chief executive officer of iconic Pennsylvania lighter maker, Zippo Manufacturing Co., is retiring next year.

The Bradford Era (http://bit.ly/1Ij3pkA ) reports the company announced president and CEO Greg Booth will retire in the first half of 2016.

Booth will be replaced by Mark Paup, who is already on the company's board and is now vice president of sales and marketing.

Booth has been Zippo's president and CEO since February 2001 of the company based in Bradford, about 130 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Zippo's chairman of the board says Booth has boosted sales of Zippo lighters by pushing the brand internationally as smoking has waned in the United States. Booth also expanded its selection by featuring customized designs and artwork on its lighter cases, and targeting 18- to 34-year-olds instead of older customers.

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Information from: The Bradford Era, http://www.bradfordera.com