Company: XXII
Filing Date: 2025-06-10
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0001641172-25-014543
Chunk: 10

Company: 22nd Century Group, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-06-10
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 10
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 the accompanying proxy, or their substitutes, will vote “FOR” each of the director nominees with respect to all proxies we receive unless instructions to the contrary are provided. If any nominee for director becomes unavailable for any reason, the votes will be cast for a substitute nominee designated by our Board. We have no reason to believe that any nominee for director will be unable to serve if elected. We strongly encourage our directors to attend our 2025 Annual Meeting. All of our continuing directors attended our 2024 Annual Meeting virtually.

The following sets forth certain information, as of June 1, 2025, about the Board’s nominees for election at the Annual Meeting and each director whose term will continue after our Annual Meeting.

<div align='center'>Our Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the election of each of its nominees.</div>

DIRECTORS

Nominees and Director Qualifications

The following biographies of our nominees and current directors contain information regarding the person’s service as a director, business experience, other director positions held currently or at any time during at least the last five years, and information regarding involvement in certain legal or administrative proceedings, if applicable. The biographies reflect the committee memberships the nominees shall hold upon their election.

We believe that each nominee and director possess the core competencies that are expected of all directors, namely, independence, integrity, sound business judgment, and a willingness to represent the long-term interests of all stockholders. The experiences, qualifications, attributes, and skills, as shown below, that caused the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board to determine that the person should serve as a director of our Company are described in each nominee’s biography.

Nominees and Current Directors

| Name         |     | Age |     | Position/Office         
 Held With the Company   |     | Director 
    Since |     | Independent |
| Lawerence    
 D. Firestone |     |  67 |     | Chairman,               
 Chief Executive Officer |     |     2023 |     | No          |
| Andy         
 Arno         |     |  66 |     | Lead                    
 Independent Director    |     |     2023 |     | Yes         |
| Anthony      
 Johnson      |     |  49 |     | Independent             
 Director                |     |     2021 |     | Yes         |
| Lucille      
 S. Salhany   |     |  78 |     | Independent             
 Director                |     |     2022 |