Editing Altria

Altria Group, Inc., is the largest publicly traded, Fortune 200 tobacco company operating in the United States, and is based in Richmond, Virginia. <ref> Sandler O’Neill & Partners, [http://www.sandleroneill.com/Collateral/Documents/English-US/Altria-Middleton%20Announcement%2011-01-2007.pdf Altria Group Agrees to Acquire John Middleton, Inc. for $2.9 Billion], 1 November 2007, Accessed January 2019 </ref> Altria only sells its tobacco products in the United States, though it has purchased shares in companies that sell products in other countries. <ref name="ALT_SUB"> Altria website, [http://www.altria.com/About-altria/our-companies/at-a-glance/Pages/default.aspx Our Companies], Accessed 28 December 2018 </ref>

==Company Overview==

Philip Morris Companies, Inc. changed its name to Altria in 2003. Altria has several subsidiaries and spun off [[Philip Morris International]] in March 2008. [[Philip Morris International]] and Altria are now legally separate companies. Altria also has shares in alcohol companies. <ref name="ALT_SUB"/>

===Key Executives===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! style="font-weight:bold; width:20%" |Name
! style="font-weight:bold; width:20%" |Position
! style="font-weight:bold; width:40%" |Bio
|-
|Howard A. Willard III
|Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Altria Group
|Howard Willard is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Altria Group. Howard has served in numerous leadership positions during his more than 25-year career at Altria -- including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Development.
 
Most recently, Howard served as the Chief Operating Officer of Altria Group, overseeing Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, John Middleton, Nat Sherman, Nu Mark, Altria Group Distribution Company, Consumer Insights and Engagement and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Since joining Philip Morris USA in 1992, Howard has held senior roles, including Finance, Sales, Information Services, Quality and Compliance, Corporate Responsibility and Strategy & Business Development. Howard has also served as a director of SAB Miller.
 
Before joining the Altria family of companies, Howard worked at Bain & Company and Salomon Brothers Inc.
 
A passionate believer in the power of diversity and inclusion, Howard is a signatory to the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge and most recently sponsored Altria's young professional Employee Resource Group Spring.
 
Howard has a B.A. from Colgate University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. Howard serves on the Management Roundtable and Kennedy Center Corporate Fund Board of Vice Chairs. <ref name="ALT_BOARD">Altria Website,[http://www.altria.com/About-Altria/Our-Leadership/Pages/default.aspx Our Leadership], Accessed December 28, 2018. </ref>  
|-
|Jody L. Begley
|Senior Vice President, Tobacco Products, Altria Group 
|Jody Begley serves as Senior Vice President, Tobacco Products. In his role, he oversees Altria's core tobacco businesses as well as their engineering and product development support.
 
Jody brings extensive sales, marketing and strategy experience from across Altria's family of companies. Prior to his current appointment, Jody served as President and General Manager of Nu Mark, leading the company's development and marketing of innovative tobacco products for adult smokers and vapers. He joined Philip Morris USA in 1995 and has held various leadership positions including Vice President, Brand Management; Vice President, Strategy & Business Development; Vice President, Marketing & Promotion Services; Vice President, Brand Management, Smokeless; Vice President, Brand Management, Philip Morris USA and Vice President, Customer & Marketing Services, AGDC.

Jody is a graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville where he received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering in 1993, and a Masters in Business Administration in 1995. He currently serves on the Board for the Boys & Girls Clubs in the metro Richmond area. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/>  
|-
|K.C. Crosthwaite
|Senior Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, Altria Group
|K.C. Crosthwaite serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, Altria Group. In this role, K.C. identifies and pursues Altria's strategic and innovative product growth priorities across the entire tobacco landscape.
 
Since joining Philip Morris USA in 1997, K.C. has held a number of leadership positions across Altria's family of companies, including President and Chief Executive Officer for Philip Morris USA, where he oversaw operations for Philip Morris USA and John Middleton, as well Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, and Vice President & General Manager, Marlboro. K.C. also led Altria Ventures' international efforts with innovative tobacco products.
 
A graduate of Marquette University, K.C. earned his MBA from Providence College. K.C. currently serves on the Board of Directors for UNCF and the National Association of Manufacturers. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/> 
|-
|Murray Garnick
|Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Altria Group (since 2017)
|Murray Garnick serves as Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Altria Group. In his role, he leads the company's Law department and the Corporate Secretary's office, Regulatory Affairs and Regulatory Sciences. He has held this position since 2017.
 
He previously served as Deputy General Counsel for Altria Client Services (ALCS), which provides professional services and support to Altria Group and its operating companies. At Altria, Murray has led the legal support for sales, marketing, regulation, and product development and intellectual property matters. He has also supervised the management of tobacco, health and other litigation brought against Altria Group and its operating companies throughout the country.
 
In 2008, Murray joined ALCS as Senior Vice President, Litigation and Associate General Counsel. He brings extensive knowledge of Altria Group and its litigation issues as the result of representing the company and its subsidiaries for more than two decades as a senior partner at the law firm of Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C.
 
While at the firm, Murray represented the company in a broad range of litigation, specializing in product liability and consumer protection litigation with an emphasis on appellate litigation. In 2008, Murray was named to the Best Lawyers in America list for product liability litigation.
 
Murray currently serves on the Board of the Newseum in Washington, D.C. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/>
|-
|William F. Gifford, Jr.
|Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, Altria Group 
|Billy Gifford serves as Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, Altria Group. In this role, Billy is responsible for overseeing Altria's core tobacco businesses, Ste Michelle Wine Estates, and the Finance and Procurement functions. In 2018, Billy also began to oversee Altria's core tobacco business.
 
Prior to his current position, Billy was Senior Vice President, Strategy & Business Development. Since joining Philip Morris USA in 1994, Billy has served in numerous leadership roles in Finance, Marketing Information & Consumer Research and as President and Chief Executive Officer of PM USA. Prior to that, he was Vice President and Treasurer for Altria where he led various functions including Risk Management, Treasury Management, Benefits Investments, Corporate Finance and Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis.
 
Prior to joining PM USA, Billy worked at the public accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand, which currently is known as PricewaterhouseCoopers.
 
Billy serves on the Board of Directors of Anheuser-Busch InBev and is a Trustee to Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/> 
|-
|Sal Mancuso
|Senior Vice President, Finance and Procurement, Altria Group 
|Sal Mancuso serves as Senior Vice President, Finance and Procurement. In this role, Sal oversees Altria's Treasury, Accounting, Corporate Tax, Procurement and Finance teams, and is responsible for the company's Asset and Portfolio Management, and Corporate Planning and Analysis.
 
Before assuming his current role, Sal held the position of Treasurer & Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Accounting. During his more than 25 years with the Altria family of companies, he has held a variety of leadership roles in the Accounting and Reporting, Financial Controls and Compliance, Financial Planning and Analysis, and Budget departments as Philip Morris USA. He has also held leadership roles in the Compliance & Integrity and Strategy & Business Development groups.
 
Prior to joining the Altria family of companies, Sal worked for Pittston Company.
 
Sal received a B.A. degree in accounting from Iona College. He serves on the Boards of Directors of Venture Richmond and Greater Richmond Partnership. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/> 
|-
|Charles N. Whitaker
|Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Compliance and Information Services; and Chief Compliance Officer, Altria Group 
|Charlie Whitaker serves as Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Compliance and Information Services. He is also the Chief Compliance Officer of Altria Group, Inc. Charlie is responsible for directing the Human Resources, Compliance and Information Services for Altria Group and its family of companies. As Chief Compliance Officer, Charlie oversees Altria's compliance program, working closely with the compliance officers for each of the Altria Group companies.
 
Prior to his current role, Charlie served as Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Compliance and also as Vice President, Compliance and Brand Integrity for Philip Morris USA. He has also served as the company's Assistant General Counsel for Labor and Employment and Compliance. Charlie began his career with Philip Morris USA's Law Department in April 2002 as Senior Counsel for Labor and Employment.
 
Before joining PM USA, Charlie worked with the law firm of Hunton & Williams in Richmond, Va.
 
Charlie graduated from the University of Virginia in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in history. He also received his juris doctor degree in 1993 from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was a member of the Virginia Law Review. He chairs the Board of Trustees of The Valentine, a Richmond history museum, and serves on the Board of Directors of Virginians for High Speed Rail. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/>
|-
|Ryan Bauersachs
|Managing Director and General Manager, John Middleton Co. 
|Ryan Bauersachs is Managing Director and General Manager of John Middleton Co., a leading manufacturer of pipe tobacco and cigars.
 
Before assuming his current role, Ryan spent six years in the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Brand Organization, serving as Director of Copenhagen and Red Seal. Prior to that, Ryan held various leadership positions in the Marlboro Brand Organization, including Brand Manager of Marlboro Digital and Brand Manager of Marlboro Value. Ryan joined the company in 2003.
 
A graduate of Illinois State University, Ryan earned his MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. Ryan is actively involved in organizations that support young professionals and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Keep Virginia Beautiful. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/>
|-
|Michael Brace
|Managing Director and General Manager, Nu Mark 
|Michael Brace serves as Managing Director and General Manager for Nu Mark. In his role, he leads the operating company’s efforts to responsibly manufacture and market its innovative vapor and oral products to adult tobacco consumers.

Prior to leading Nu Mark, Michael was the Senior Director of Marketing for Nu Mark where he led consumer engagement efforts. Since joining the company in 1999, he has held a number of leadership roles including General Manager, John Middleton Company, Director of Regulatory Product Planning and Marketing Director of Portfolio Brands for Philip Morris USA. Additionally, Michael has served in various roles throughout the Altria Group Distribution Company.
 
Michael is a Philadelphia native. He received his undergraduate degree from the Pennsylvania State University Smeal College of Business. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of C2Adopt, an adoption agency in the metro Richmond area providing training, education, placement and support services to adoptive and birth families and adoptees. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/>
|-
|Shannon Leistra
|President and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company 
|Shannon Leistra is the President and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Altria Group and the world's leading producer and marketer of smokeless tobacco. She is responsible for the day-to-day strategic direction of USSTC.

Shannon previously served as the General Manager of Nat Sherman. She also spent six years in the Marlboro Brand Organization, serving as Director of Marlboro Value and Total Equity Programs and Senior Brand Manager. Prior to that, Shannon served as National Sales Manager supporting the development of U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company’s trade programs. She also spent time as part of the Field Sales Force when she joined the company in 2004.
 
Shannon is a Richmond native and a graduate of the University of Virginia. She is actively involved with organizations that support the empowerment of women through career development, and serves the Workforce Preparation Committee of the Capital Region Collaborative. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/>
|-
|Dominik Meier
|Managing Director and General Manager, Nat Sherman LLC 
|Dominik Meier is the Managing Director and General Manager of Nat Sherman LLC, a super-premium cigarette and cigar business.
 
Before assuming his current role, Dominik served as Managing Director, Consumer Insights & Engagement supporting Philip Morris USA, John Middleton, and Nat Sherman. Prior to that, Dominik served as General Manager for a joint venture, Richmark GmbH. He has also worked in Strategy & Business Development and Brand Management, supporting Marlboro.
 
Dominik is a Swiss and Italian citizen and has a BA from Tufts University and an MA from the University of Chicago. He is actively involved with organizations that support the environment or enable individuals with physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities. He has previously served on the Keep Virginia Beautiful Board and is currently involved with Inclusive Racing. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/>
|-
|Jim Mortensen
|President and Chief Executive Officer, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ltd. (Since September 2018)
|Jim Mortensen serves as President and Chief Executive Officer for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ltd. He was appointed to this position in September 2018.
 
Jim is an accomplished general manager with more than 25+ years of global experience in consumer packaged goods businesses. His career spans several continents and senior level leadership positions including Region President, Latin America & Canada for Philip Morris International (PMI); Managing Director, Mexico, Ecuador & Peru; President, Philip Morris Japan K.K.; Senior Vice President, Sales & Distribution for Miller Brewing Company; and Vice President Trade Marketing for Philip Morris USA. In addition to his general management, sales and marketing expertise. Jim has also served as Senior Vice President Human Resources at PMI.
 
Jim earned a BS in Business Administration and an MBA from the State University of New York at Buffalo. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/>
|-
|Heather Newman
|President and Chief Executive Officer, Philip Morris USA 
|Heather Newman serves as President and Chief Executive Officer for Philip Morris USA, where she leads the company's efforts to responsibly manufacture and market its brands to adult tobacco consumers in a financially disciplined way. 
 
Previously, Heather held a number of brand marketing leadership roles, including Vice President & General Manager, Marlboro, and Director of Brand Management, Skoal, for U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, the world’s leading producer and marketer of smokeless tobacco.
 
Heather has also served as the Director of Strategy and Business Development for Altria Client Services, dedicating her time to growing the Altria Ventures Fund. Since 1999, she has held various leadership roles in Altria Group Distribution Company and in Brand Management for Philip Morris USA as well as John Middleton. Heather received her undergraduate business degree in 1999 from Saint Joseph's University's Erivan K Haub School of Business with a concentration in Food Marketing and also completed her Masters of Business Administration at Saint Joseph's University Erivan K Haub School of Business with a concentration in Marketing.
 
She serves on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Mentoring Partnership and the Executive Advisory Council for the University of Richmond Robins School of Business. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/>
|-
|Gregory H. Ray
|Senior Vice President, Operations Support, Altria Client Services
|Greg Ray serves as Senior Vice President, Operations Support for Altria Client Services. In his role, Greg leads an organization that aligns and provides manufacturing and related support services to Altria's core tobacco and innovative products businesses.
 
Most recently, Greg served as Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, for Philip Morris USA, overseeing the production of the company's smokeable tobacco brands. Prior to his work with PM USA, he served as Vice President, Manufacturing, for U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, where he oversaw Smokeless Tobacco Processing and Manufacturing. During his more than 20 years with the Altria family of companies, Greg has held a variety of positions in Quality and Compliance, Altria Consumer Engagement Services, PM USA Manufacturing and Research, Development and Engineering. While Director of Plant Operations for PM USA's Park 500 facility, he led the construction of an innovative Natural Treatment System to reduce nutrient levels in treated wastewater from tobacco processing.
 
Greg is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He serves on the Boards of Keep America Beautiful and the Virginia Historical Society. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/> 
|-
|Craig G. Schwartz
|Senior Vice President, Operations, Nu Mark LLC (since November 2013)
|Craig Schwartz serves as Senior Vice President, Operations, helping Nu Mark LLC develop and manufacture innovative tobacco products for adult tobacco consumers. He has held this position since November 2013.
 
He previously served as Senior Vice President, Smokeable Manufacturing, for Philip Morris USA, where he led efforts to responsibly manufacture brands for adult smokers at PM USA and John Middleton. Craig has also served as Chief Executive Officer and President of John Middleton.
 
Prior to his roles at Middleton, Craig served as Vice President, Strategy and Business Development for PM USA, and later for Altria Client Services. During his career at Altria, Craig has held a variety of leadership roles related to Finance and Planning, as Plant Manager at PM USA's Cabarrus Manufacturing Center in North Carolina and later as Vice President and General Manager of its Richmond Manufacturing Center. Craig joined Altria in March 1982 as a Financial Analyst for the Latin American Region for Philip Morris International, then a part of the Altria family of companies.
 
Craig attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., for his undergraduate studies, and Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., for graduate school. Craig has four children, and is active in the community, serving on the Board of Trustees of the Richmond Waldorf School. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/> 
|-
|Daniel C. Cornell
|Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Altria Client Services, LLC (since 2012)
|Dan Cornell serves as Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Altria Client Services, LLC. In this role, he is responsible for information technology strategy for the Altria family of companies and oversees the technology alignment with Altria Group’s core businesses to meet current and future needs. Dan has held this position since 2012.
 
Since joining Altria's family of companies in 1996, Dan has held a variety of leadership positions with increasing responsibilities in the information technology organization including leading strategic business process and technology initiatives for Altria Client Services.
 
During Dan's leadership, Altria's information technology organization has been consistently recognized as one of the "Top100 Best Places to Work in IT", according to Computerworld Magazine.
 
Prior to joining Altria, Dan spent 12 years with IBM where he held various leadership positions in product development and business consulting functions.
 
Dan received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a Minor in Management from Old Dominion University. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Repertory Theatre and RichTech (Richmond’s Technology Council).<ref name="ALT_BOARD"/>
|-
|Pascal A. Fernandez
|Senior Vice President, Consumer & Marketplace Insights, Altria Client Services (since 2006)
|Pascal Fernandez serves as Senior Vice President, Consumer & Marketplace Insights for Altria Client Services, which provides professional services and support to Altria Group and its operating companies. In this role, Pascal has led a team that provides consumer and marketplace insights to the Altria Group companies since 2006.
 
Previously, Pascal served as Vice President, Marketing, for Philip Morris USA where he led strategy and planning for Marlboro and portfolio brands. Since joining Philip Morris USA in 1991, Pascal has held a variety of leadership positions in a number of functions including marketing, brand management and sales.
 
Pascal is a member of the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research. He currently serves on the National Board of Communities in Schools. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/> 
|-
|Mary Gordon
|Vice President, Quality, Safety, Health and Environmental, Altria Client Services
|Mary Gordon serves as Vice President, Quality, Safety, Health and Environmental, where she oversees the teams which create, lead and implement the Quality Management System and the Safety, Health and Environmental Management System infrastructure across the Altria family of companies and its suppliers.
 
Mary was previously the Vice President of Manufacturing for U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, overseeing processing and manufacturing facilities in Tennessee, Illinois and Kentucky. She also served as Chief Compliance Officer for USSTC. Since joining Philip Morris USA in 1987 as an electrical engineer, Mary has held a variety of leadership positions including Plant Director at Cabarrus Manufacturing Center in Concord, NC, Vice President of Marketing & Promotion Services and Vice President and General Manager, Richmond Manufacturing.
 
Mary holds undergraduate degrees from Spelman College and Georgia Institute of Technology and an M.B.A from Virginia Commonwealth University, and has been recognized as Outstanding Women in Business by the Charlotte Business Journal and as Remarkable Business Women in Richmond by the Metropolitan Business League. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Virginia Union University and the Board of Governors for the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/>
 
|-
|Jennifer Hunter
|Senior Vice President, Communications and Corporate Citizenship, Altria Client Services (since 2011)
|Jennifer Hunter serves as Senior Vice President, Communications and Corporate Citizenship for Altria Client Services, which provides professional services and support to Altria Group and its operating companies. Jennifer leads the company's efforts to address external issues and communicate about their actions. She also oversees Altria’s tobacco operating companies' efforts to help prevent underage tobacco use and help adult tobacco users who decide to quit be more successful. She has held this position since 2011.
 
Jennifer has held a variety of roles in Philip Morris (PM USA) Sales, PM USA Youth Smoking Prevention & Corporate Responsibility and ALCS Corporate Responsibility & Stakeholder Relations. She joined PM USA in 1994 as a Territory Sales Manager in Kenosha, Wis.
 
Jennifer holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Wisconsin. She currently serves as the Chairman of the Altria Companies Employee Community Fund and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council. Jennifer also serves on the Boards of the Curry School Foundation of the University of Virginia, Virginia State University, The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia, NextUp RVA and on the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Fund Region 4 Council. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/>
|-
|Craig A. Johnson
|President and Chief Executive Officer, Altria Group Distribution Company (since April 2011)
|Craig Johnson serves as President and Chief Executive Officer for Altria Group Distribution Company, a service organization that provides centralized sales and distribution services to Altria's tobacco operating companies. He has held this position since April 2011.
 
Under Craig's leadership, AGDC provides high quality programs and services to Altria's tobacco companies' trade partners (wholesalers and retailers) and executes consumer engagement programs for adult tobacco consumers. As part of this effort, AGDC is responsible for the coverage of approximately 240,000 retail stores to enhance Altria's tobacco operating companies' brands in a focused and responsible way.
 
Prior his current role, Craig served as Executive Vice President for Altria Group, overseeing Altria's tobacco operating companies as well as Altria Sales & Distribution and Altria Consumer Engagement Services. Craig joined Philip Morris USA as a Vice President in 1991.
 
Craig has extensive experience with leadership development, brand management and sales in the consumer packaged goods industry. Prior to joining the company, he was with Frito-Lay Inc. and Procter & Gamble.
 
Active in the community, Craig serves as a National Trustee of The First Tee. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/> 
|-
|Willie J. McKinney
|Vice President, Regulatory Sciences, for Altria Client Services
|Willie J. McKinney, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., serves as Vice President, Regulatory Sciences, for Altria Client Services (ALCS) in Richmond, Va. In this role, he leads a team that develops scientific evaluation and regulatory science strategies for Altria's family of companies. Dr. McKinney also serves on FDA’s Tobacco Product Scientific Advisory Committee as the non-voting representative of the tobacco manufacturing industry.
 
Dr. McKinney has held a variety of positions with increasing responsibilities within the Altria family of companies. He served as Senior Director, Product Integrity and Regulatory Reporting, where he led a team that developed scientific evaluation and regulatory submission strategies for Altria's family of companies; Director, Strategic Product Planning, where he provided operational and strategic support; Senior Manager, Cellular & Molecular Biology Group, and as a visiting scientist at the Institut fur Biologische Forschung GmbH (INBIFO) Koln, Germany.
 
Before joining the Altria family of companies in 1998, Dr. McKinney held a variety of academic and research roles, including working as an associate research scientist at the Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, NYU Medical Center, Tuxedo, N.Y., and as a graduate research assistant at the Center for Environmental Medicine and Lung Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also held toxicology intern and research assistant roles with several government agencies.
 
Dr. McKinney is board certified in toxicology by the American Board of Toxicology, has published numerous professional articles related to his research and work, and has presented before various scientific organizations.
 
He serves on the Higher Achievement Board and the Richmond Higher Achievement Advisory Board. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/>
|-
|Liz Mountjoy
|Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Altria Client Services 
|Liz serves as the Vice President of Corporate Strategy for Altria Client Services. In this role, she leads Altria’s strategies to pursue growth opportunities and maximize the core business. Prior to this position, Liz was Managing Director of Altria’s Digital & Marketing Services organization, designed to help Altria accelerate digital and offline adult tobacco consumer engagement, working with a vast vendor ecosystem. Previously, Liz led Consumer and Marketplace Insights for Nu Mark, Altria’s innovative products company.
Liz came to Altria from Strategy&, the advisory arm of PwC, where she focused on critical business transformations for leading retail and consumer clients. Liz also led the design and implementation of a product development organization for Brunswick Corporation and managed digital marketing for Hyatt Hotel Corporation.
 
Liz received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and her M.B.A. from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/>
|-
|Jose Luis Murillo
|Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, Altria Client Services 
|Joe Murillo serves as Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, Altria Client Services. Joe leads FDA-related regulatory strategy, engagement, communications and advocacy for Altria's tobacco operating companies. He also develops regulatory and research strategies related to Altria's pursuit of tobacco harm reduction and FDA authorization of modified risk tobacco products.
 
Before being appointed to his current position, Joe served as President and General Manager of Nu Mark, LLC. In that role, Joe led the company's development and marketing of innovative tobacco products for adult tobacco consumers.
 
During the course of his career, Joe has developed extensive knowledge of the marketing, sales, distribution, regulatory and communications aspects of bringing tobacco products to market. Joe started his career as a commercial litigator in New York City before joining Altria as an in-house attorney.
 
Joe is a graduate of Columbia Law School and a graduate of the University of Miami, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/> 
|-
|Brian W. Quigley
|Senior Vice President, Brand Engagement & Commerce, Altria Client Services 
|Brian Quigley serves as Senior Vice President, Brand Engagement & Commerce, for Altria Client Services. Brian’s team capitalizes on emerging technologies, channels and marketing approaches to bring products to adult tobacco consumers, through a deep understanding of their shopping behaviors and lifestyles.
 
Prior to this role, Brian served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Nu Mark LLC, an Altria innovation company, and President and Chief Executive Officer for U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC), the world's leading producer and marketer of smokeless tobacco. Since 2003, he has held various leadership roles including brand management at USSTC as Vice President, Copenhagen, and business development and planning at Philip Morris USA.
 
Before joining the Altria family of companies, Brian held branding and leadership roles with several companies, including Pinnacle Foods Corporation, International Home Foods, which is now part of ConAgra, Inc., and in the advertising industry.
 
A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Brian serves on the Board of the Science Museum of Virginia Foundation and on the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/> 
|-
|Michael Thorne-Begland
|Vice President & Chief Transformation Officer for Client Services
|Michael Thorne-Begland is Vice President & Chief Transformation Officer for Altria Client Services, which provides professional services and support to Altria Group and its operating companies. In his role, Michael helps drive and facilitate the cultural and business change necessary to win in the future.
 
For nearly ten years, Michael led Altria's Brand and Trade Channel Integrity department, which is responsible for helping Altria's companies protect the integrity of their brands and the legitimate trade channels through which they are distributed and sold. Michael began his career with Altria in 2004 as an attorney in the Law Department advising on counterfeit and contraband tobacco issues.
 
Prior to joining Altria, Michael practiced law with the firm Hunton & Williams in Richmond, Virginia, specializing in international corporate and commercial matters.
 
In 2014, Michael helped found Mosaic, Altria's employee resource group for LGBTQ employees, which he led for three years.
 
Michael graduated from the College of William & Mary and the T.C. Williams School of Law. Michael currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for Side by Side, an organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ youth in central Virginia. Michael also serves on the Board of Governors of Saint Catherine's School and the Board of Directors for Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/> 
|-
|Todd Walker
|Senior Vice President, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs for Altria Client Services 
|Todd Walker is Senior Vice President, Government Affairs for Altria Client Services, which provides professional services and support to Altria Group and its operating companies. In his role, Todd is responsible for leading the company's Government Affairs department.
 
Todd brings more than 25 years of experience in strategic planning, government affairs and politics. Prior to his current position, Todd was Vice President of Federal Government Affairs and Government Affairs Outreach Programs for Altria Client Services. Todd also served as Vice President, Government Affairs and Public Policy for U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC), an Altria Group operating company, and in other Federal and State Government Affairs leadership roles at USSTC.
 
He serves on the Board of Directors for the US Chamber of Commerce, the Trust for the National Mall and the Louisa M. Swain Foundation. <ref name="ALT_BOARD"/> 
|-
|}

===Board Members===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="font-weight:bold;" | Name
! style="font-weight:bold;" | Position
! style="font-weight:bold;" | Bio
|-
| John T. Casteen III
| Director since 2010
| Mr. Casteen became President Emeritus of the University of Virginia in August 2010 after having served as President of the University since 1990. He is both University Professor and Professor of English. Previously, Mr. Casteen served as Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1982 to 1985 and President of the University of Connecticut from 1985 to 1990. He is a director of Strayer Education, Inc. He also serves as a director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Leifur Eiríksson Foundation and several privately-held companies. Mr. Casteen is a member of the Audit, Compensation and Innovation Committees. <ref name="ALT_BOARD2">Altria Website, [http://www.altria.com/About-Altria/Board-of-Directors-and-Committees/Board-of-Directors/Pages/default.aspx Board Of Directors], Accessed 28 December 28 2018 </ref> 
|-
| Dinyar S. Devitre
| Director since 2008
| Mr. Devitre served as Special Advisor to General Atlantic LLC, a private equity firm, from June 2008 to January 2017. In March 2008, Mr. Devitre retired from his position as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Altria Group, Inc. Prior to Mr. Devitre’s appointment to this position in April 2002, he held a number of senior management positions with the company. He is a director of IHS Markit Ltd. He also serves as a director of Pratham USA and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He previously served as a director of Kraft Foods Inc. (now known as Mondelēz International, Inc.) from 2002 to 2007, Emdeon Inc. from 2008 to 2011, Western Union Company from 2006 to May 2015, SABMiller plc from 2007 to October 2016 and as a director of The Asia Society and The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. Mr. Devitre is Chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Executive, Innovation and Nominating, Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Committees. {{r|ALT_BOARD 2}} 
|-
| Thomas F. Farrell II
| Director since 2008
| Mr. Farrell is the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dominion Energy, Inc. ("Dominion"), one of the nation’s largest producers of energy. He became President and Chief Executive Officer of Dominion effective January 2006 and was elected Chairman in April 2007. From January 2004 through December 2005, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Dominion and prior to that as Executive Vice President. He is director of Dominion Energy Midstream GP, LLC, and also serves as a director of Dominion Energy Gas Holdings, LLC and Virginia Electric and Power Company, which are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Dominion that only issue registered debt. He also serves as a director of Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services Limited, Edison Electric Institute, Richmond Performing Arts Center L.L.L.P., Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He previously served on the board of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. Mr. Farrell is the Presiding Director and a member of the Compensation, Executive and Nominating, Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Committees. {{r|ALT_BOARD 2}} 
|-
| Debra J. Kelly-Ennis
| Director since 2013
| Ms. Kelly-Ennis was President and Chief Executive Officer of Diageo Canada, Inc., a subsidiary of Diageo plc, a global spirits, wine and beer company, from 2008 to June 2012. From 2005 to 2008, she was Chief Marketing Officer for Diageo North America, Inc., another subsidiary of Diageo plc. Ms. Kelly-Ennis has also held marketing, sales and general management positions with RJR/Nabisco, Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, General Motors Corporation and Grand Metropolitan PLC. She is a director of Carnival Corporation & plc, TFI International Inc. and a privately-held company. She also serves as Director Emeritus of Dress for Success Worldwide. She previously served as a director of Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. from 2013 to October 2015 and PulteGroup, Inc. from 1995 to September 2016. Ms. Kelly-Ennis is a member of the Audit, Innovation and Nominating, Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Committees. {{r|ALT_BOARD 2}} 
|-
| W. Leo Kiely III
| Director since 2011
| Mr. Kiely retired as Chief Executive Officer of MillerCoors LLC, a joint venture combining the U.S. and Puerto Rico operations of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company, in July 2011, a position he had held since July 2009.,From February 2005 through July 2009, Mr. Kiely served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Molson Coors Brewing Company. From March 1993 to March 2005 he held a variety of executive positions at Coors Brewing Company, including Chief Executive Officer. Before joining Coors Brewing Company, he held executive positions with Frito-Lay, Inc., a subsidiary of PepsiCo Inc., and Ventura Coastal Corporation, a division of Seven Up Inc. He is a director of HC Government Realty Trust, Inc. He previously served as a director of Medpro Safety Products, Inc. from 2009 to March 2014, and as a director of The Denver Center for the Performing Arts and the Helen G. Bonfils Foundation. Mr. Kiely is Chair of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Executive, Finance and Innovation Committees. {{r|ALT_BOARD 2}} 
|-
| Kathryn B. McQuade
| Director since 2012
| Ms. McQuade served as Senior Advisor of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (“Canadian Pacific”), a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States, from November 2012 to May 2013, after previously serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Canadian Pacific from September 2008 to her retirement in November 2012. Ms. McQuade joined Canadian Pacific in June 2007 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining Canadian Pacific, Ms. McQuade served as Executive Vice President – Planning and Chief Information Officer at Norfolk Southern Corporation where she spent 27 years in key information technology, strategic planning and finance leadership positions. She is a director of TransAlta Renewables Inc. She also serves as a director of several privately-held companies. She previously served on the boards of The College of William & Mary Foundation and Shenandoah Life Insurance Company. Ms. McQuade is Chair of the Nominating, Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Committee and a member of the Audit, Compensation and Executive Committees. {{r|ALT_BOARD 2}} 
|-
| George Muñoz
| Director since 2004
| Mr. Muñoz is a principal of the Washington, D.C.-based firm of Muñoz Investment Banking Group, LLC. He is also a partner in the Chicago-based law firm of Tobin & Muñoz. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation from 1997 to January 2001. From 1993 to 1997, Mr. Muñoz was Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary of the United States Treasury Department. He is a director of Marriott International, Inc., Anixter International, Inc. and Laureate Education, Inc. He also serves as a trustee of the National Geographic Society and as a director of Direct Edge, Inc., a privately-held company. He previously served as a director of Archipelago Holdings, Inc. from 2004 to 2006 and Esmark Incorporated from 2007 to 2008. Mr. Muñoz is Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Executive, Finance and Nominating, Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Committees. {{r|ALT_BOARD 2}} 
|-
| Mark E. Newman
| Director since 2018
| Mr. Newman is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Chemours Company ("Chemours"), a global chemical company. He is also the executive sponsor of the Chemours Black Employee Network. Mr. Newman joined Chemours, then a subsidiary of DuPont, in 2014. From 2011 to 2014, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for SunCoke Energy Inc. Prior to 2011, Mr. Newman held financial and operational leadership positions at General Motors Corporation, GMAC Financial Services, LLC and Ally Financial Inc. Mr. Newman is a member of the Audit and Finance Committees. {{r|ALT_BOARD 2}} 
|-
| Nabil Y. Sakkab
| Director since 2008
| Dr. Sakkab held a variety of positions at The Procter & Gamble Company beginning in 1974. He retired in November 2007 as Senior Vice President, Corporate Research and Development. He is a director of Pharnext and several privately-held companies. He previously served as a director of Deinove from 2010 to April 2016 and Givaudan SA from 2008 to March 2015. Dr. Sakkab is Chair of the Innovation Committee and a member of the Executive, Finance and Nominating, Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Committees. {{r|ALT_BOARD 2}} 
|-
| Virginia E. Shanks
| Director since 2017
| Ms. Shanks served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. ("Pinnacle"), a casino entertainment company, from July 2013 until October 15, 2018 when Pinnacle merged with Penn National Gaming, Inc. From October 2010 to June 2013, Ms. Shanks served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Pinnacle. Prior to joining Pinnacle, she was Chief Marketing Officer for Multimedia Games Inc. from 2008 to 2010. Prior to 2008, Ms. Shanks held senior executive positions for more than 25 years at the property, division and corporate levels of Caesars Entertainment Corp., including Senior Vice President of Brand Management. She also serves as a director of Global Gaming Women. Ms. Shanks is a member of the Audit, Compensation and Innovation Committees. {{r|ALT_BOARD 2}} 
|-
| Howard A. Willard III
| Director since 2018
| Howard Willard is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Altria Group. Mr. Willard has served in numerous leadership positions during his more than 25-year career at Altria -- including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. Most recently, Mr. Willard served as the Chief Operating Officer of Altria Group, overseeing Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, John Middleton, Nat Sherman, Nu Mark, Altria Group Distribution Company, Consumer Insights and Engagement and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Since joining Philip Morris USA in 1992, Mr. Willard has held senior roles, including Finance, Sales, Information Services, Quality and Compliance, Corporate Responsibility and Strategy & Business Development. Mr. Willard has also served as a director of SAB Miller.,Before joining the Altria family of companies, Mr. Willard worked at Bain & Company and Salomon Brothers Inc. A passionate believer in the power of diversity and inclusion, Mr. Willard is a signatory to the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge and most recently sponsored Altria's young professional Employee Resource Group Spring. Mr. Willard has a B.A. from Colgate University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. Mr. Willard serves on the Management Roundtable and Kennedy Center Corporate Fund Board of Vice Chairs. {{r|ALT_BOARD 2}} 
|}

===Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries===
===List of Significant Subsidiaries===

*Philip Morris USA <ref name="ALT_SUB"/>
*U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company <ref name="ALT_SUB"/> 
*John Middleton <ref name="ALT_SUB"/> 
*Nat Sherman <ref name="ALT_SUB"/> 
*Nu Mark <ref name="ALT_SUB"/> 
*St. Michelle Wine Estates <ref name="ALT_SUB"/> 
 
===2018 Forecast===

==Profitability==
===Annual Trends===
===Profits per Region (in Millions USD)=== 
===Acquisitions===

{| class="wikitable"
! style="font-weight:bold;" | Recent acquisitions
! style="font-weight:bold;" | Acquired Organization Name
! style="font-weight:bold;" | Acquiring Organization Name
! style="font-weight:bold;" | Announced Date
! style="font-weight:bold;" | Value (in USD)
|-
| John Middleton
| John Middleton
| Altria
| November 2007
| 2.9 billion <ref> Sandler O’Neill & Partners, [http://www.sandleroneill.com/Collateral/Documents/English-US/Altria-Middleton%20Announcement%2011-01-2007.pdf Altria Group Agrees to Acquire John Middleton, Inc. for $2.9 Billion], 1 November 2007, Accessed January 2019 </ref>
|-
| U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company
| U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company
| Altria
| September 2008
| 11.7 billion <ref>[https://www.ft.com/content/e6f588cc-7d9e-11dd-bdbd-000077b07658 Altria buys UST for $11.7bn], ''Financial Times'', 8 September 2008, Accessed January 2019 </ref>
|-
| Nat Sherman
| Sherman Group Holdings, LLC
| Altria
| January 2017
| NA <ref>Altria website, [http://investor.altria.com/file/Index?KeyFile=394250144 Altria Announces Acquisition of Sherman Group Holdings, LLC Press release ], 17 January 2017, Accessed January 2019 </ref> 
|-
| Green Smoke
| Green Smoke
| Nu Mark
| April 2014
| 110 million cash
20 million incentive payments <ref>[https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140401006617/en/Altria-Completes-Acquisition-Green-Smoke Altria Completes Acquisition of Green Smoke ], ''Business Wire'', 1 April 2014, Accessed January 2019 </ref> 
|}

===Investments===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="font-weight:bold;" | Investments
! style="font-weight:bold;" | Announced Date
! style="font-weight:bold;" | Value (in USD)
|-
| JUUL
| December 2018
| 12.8 billion <ref name=”ALT_INVST”>Altria website, [http://investor.altria.com/file/Index?KeyFile=396169695 Altria Makes $12.8 Billion Minority Investment in JUUL to Accelerate Harm Reduction and Drive Growth  Press Release], 20 December 2018, Accessed January 2019 </ref>
|-
| Cronos
| December 2018
| 1.8 billion  <ref>Altria website, [http://investor.altria.com/file/Index?KeyFile=396027308 Altria to Make Growth Investment in Cronos Group Press Release], 7 December 2018, Accessed January 2019 </ref>
|}

===Market Share===
According to Altria’s 2017 Annual Report filed with the SEC, Altria’s cigarette brands made up 50.7% share of the United States cigarette market, down from 51.1% in 2016. Altria’s smokeless tobacco products made up 53.7% of the total United States smokeless tobacco product market, down from 54.7% in 2016.<ref name="ALT_TABLE"> Altria Group, Inc., [https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/764180/000076418018000028/a2017form10-kq4.htm 2017 Annual Report Form 10-K], 27 February 2018, pp. 31-32, Accessed January 2019 </ref>
===Emerging Markets===
===Factory Openings and Closures===
===Dividends===

==Products==
===Key Portfolio===
{| class="wikitable"
! Product
! Notes
|-
| Marlboro Cigarettes
| In 2017, Marlboro cigarettes made up 43.3% of the U.S. cigarette market. <ref name="ALT_TABLE"/>
|-
| Other Premium Cigarette Brands: Virginia Slims, Parliament, Benson & Hedges
| In 2017, Altria’s other premium brands made up 2.7% of the total U.S. cigarette market, down from 2.8% in 2016. <ref name="ALT_TABLE"/>

|-
| Discount Cigarette Brands:L&M, Basic, others
| In 2017, Altria’s discount brands made up 4.7% of the total U.S. cigarette market, up from 4.6% in 2016. <ref name="ALT_TABLE"/> 
|-
| Black & Mild Cigars
| Under its subsidiary, John Middleton, Altria markets Black & Mild, the most popular cigar brand among 12-17 year olds.<ref> SAMHSA, HHS. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, [http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36361.v1 SAMHSA’s public online data analysis system (PDAS)], 22 March 2016, Accessed January 2019 </ref>

|-
| Smokeless Tobacco Products
| Under its subsidiary, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, Altria markets Copenhagen and Skoal, two of the most popular smokeless tobacco brands among 12-17 year olds. <ref> SAMHSA, HHS. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pdas.samhsa.gov/%23/&sa=D&ust=1546854106225000&usg=AFQjCNHP-A9RG9bCgSIYdlNcxldEAuxvEg National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2014], 2016, Accessed January 2019 </ref>
|-
| E-Cigarettes
| Altria had developed its own line of e-cigarette products under the brand name MarkTen, and also sold e-cigarettes manufactured by its subsidiary, Green Smoke.,However, in December 2018, Altria announced that it would stop marketing all of its e-cigarettes <ref>Altria website, [http://investor.altria.com/file/Index?KeyFile=396027556 Altria Refocuses Innovative Product Efforts Press statement ], 7 December 2018 , Accessed January 2019 </ref>  and purchased 35% stake in the popular e-cigarette company, JUUL. <ref name="ALT_TABLE"/> 
|-
| Premium Cigarettes and Cigars
| Premium Cigarettes and Cigars through its subsidiary, Nat Sherman, Altria sells super premium cigarettes and cigars. <ref name="ALT_SUB"/>
|}

===Heated Tobacco Products===
Altria has entered into a deal with [[Philip Morris International]] to market the IQOS system in the U.S. if the product receives a pre-market authorization order from the FDA.<ref>Altria website, [http://investor.altria.com/Cache/1001246289.PDF?O=PDF&T=&Y=&D=&FID=1001246289&iid=4087349 Altria’s Statement on Philip Morris International’s Premarket Tobacco Product Application Submission to the FDA Press statement ], 31 March 2017, Accessed January 2019 </ref>

=== Shipment Volumes===
====Combustible tobacco products====


{| class="wikitable"
! style="font-weight:bold;" | Shipment Volume
For the Year Ended December 31(sticks in millions)
! style="font-weight:bold;" | 2017 <ref name="ALT_TABLE"/>
! style="font-weight:bold;" | 2016 <ref name="ALT_TABLE"/>
! style="font-weight:bold;" | 2015 <ref name="ALT_TABLE"/>
|-
| style="font-weight:bold;" | Cigarettes
| 
| 
| 
|-
| Marlboro
| style="font-weight:bold;" | 99,974
| 105,297
| 108,113
|-
| Other premium
| style="font-weight:bold;" | 5,967
| 6,382
| 6,753
|-
| Discount
| style="font-weight:bold;" | 10,665
| 11,251
| 11,152
|-
| style="font-weight:bold;" | Total cigarettes
| style="font-weight:bold;" | 116,606
| 122,930
| 126,018
|-
| style="font-weight:bold;" | Cigars
| style="font-weight:bold;" | 
| 
| 
|-
| Black & Mild
| style="font-weight:bold;" | 1,527
| 1,379
| 1,295
|-
| Other
| style="font-weight:bold;" | 15
| 24
| 30
|-
| style="font-weight:bold;" | Total cigars
| style="font-weight:bold;" | 1,542
| 1,403
| 1,325
|-
| style="font-weight:bold;" | Total smokeable products
| style="font-weight:bold;" | 118,148
| 124,333
| 127,343
|}

====Smokeless tobacco products====
{| class="wikitable"
! style="font-weight:bold;" | Shipment Volume
For the Year Ended December 31(cans and packs in millions)
! style="font-weight:bold;" | 2017 {{r|ALT_TABLE|p=32}} 
! style="font-weight:bold;" | 2016  {{r|ALT_TABLE|p=32}} 
! style="font-weight:bold;" | 2015{{r|ALT_TABLE|p=32}} 
|-
| Copenhagen
| style="font-weight:bold;" | 531.6
| 525.1
| 474.7
|-
| Skoal
| style="font-weight:bold;" | 241.9
| 260.9
| 267.9
|-
| Copenhagen and Skoal
| style="font-weight:bold;" | 773.5
| 786.0
| 742.6
|-
| Other
| style="font-weight:bold;" | 67.8
| 67.5
| 70.9
|-
| Total smokeless products
| style="font-weight:bold;" | 841.3
| 853.5
| 813.5
|}


==Marketing and External Relations== 
===Global Campaigns===
===Corporate Social Responsibility===
Altria reports four areas of corporate responsibility:  harm reduction, supply chain responsibility, marketing responsibly, and “our employees.” <ref> Altria website, [http://www.altria.com/Responsibility/At-A-Glance/Pages/default.aspx Where We’re Focused], Accessed 28 December 2018 </ref>
 
Altria publishes its annual list of charitable giving recipients [ http://www.altria.com/Responsibility/Investing-In-Communities/Documents/GranteesList.pdf here].
 
===Lobbying===
On the federal level, Altria spends millions of dollars each year to lobby and influence members of the U.S. Congress. According to the figures compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, Altria spent more than USD 7 million on federal lobbying in 2018 (through the third quarter of the year).<ref name="ALT_CFRPL2"> Center for Responsive Politics, [https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000000067&year=2018 Top Spenders],  Accessed January 2019 </ref>
Altria spent more than USD 194 million since 1998 on professional lobbying firms and in-house lobbyists, making the company among the top 20 overall spenders on federal lobbying. {{r|ALT_CFRPL2}} These figures reflect lobbying expenditures reported to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House.  
 
At the state level, Altria was one of two dozen companies with registered lobbyists in every state between 2010 and 2014. <ref> Kusnetz, N, [https://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/03/25/19468/how-big-tobacco-lobbies-safeguard-e-cigarettes How Big Tobacco Lobbies to Safeguard E-cigarettes],  ''Public Integrity '', 25 March 2016, Accessed January 2019 </ref>
 
Lobbying spending at the state level is difficult to track. However, news reports have shown that Altria actively contributes at the state and local level. For instance, in 2011, Altria spent more than USD 165,000 lobbying in Idaho, 82% higher than any other company or group that year.<ref name=”ALT_AP”>[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/19/how-big-tobacco-stopped-a-smoking-tax-in-marlboro-/ How Big Tobacco Stopped a Smoking Tax in Marlboro Country (aka Montana)], ''Associated Press '', May 19, 2017, Accessed January 2019 </ref>  In 2017, Altria spent USD 120,000 to lobby in Montana, which exceeded all lobby spending in the first three months. <ref name=”ALT_AP”/>
 
Altria has also spent millions of dollars to oppose ballot initiatives for effective tobacco control measures in states:
*2018 Montana USD 1.00 tobacco tax increase: USD 17.2 million to oppose <ref name=”ALT_AP”/>
*2018 South Dakota USD 1.00 tobacco tax increase: USD 6 million to oppose <ref> South Dakota Secretary of State, [https://sdcfr.sdsos.gov/Document.aspx?DocumentID=33581&type=doc Campaign Finance Disclosure Report for South Dakotans Against Higher Taxes, filed October 22, 2018], pp. 1-4, Accessed January 2019</ref>
*2016 California USD 2.00 tobacco tax increase:  USD 44 million to oppose (includes contributions from Altria subsidiaries) <ref> California Fair Political Practices Commission,[http://www.fppc.ca.gov/transparency/top-contributors/nov-16-gen/nov-16-gen-v2.html Top Contributors to Primarily Formed Committees: November 2016 General Election], 7 February 2018, Accessed January 2019</ref>  
*2004 Oklahoma 80-cent tobacco tax increase:  USD 1 million to oppose <ref>[https://newsok.com/article/2871469/tobacco-companies-sellers-fund-effort-against-question Tobacco companies, sellers fund effort against question], ''The Oklahoman'', 26 October 2004, Accessed January 2019</ref> 
 
For additional examples, see Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids [https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/factsheets/0389.pdf factsheet].

===Research and Development===
===Marketing to Kids===
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) collects and releases marketing and advertising spending by the top five tobacco companies, which includes Altria. The spending amounts in the FTC reports are in aggregate, so that the amounts cannot be broken down by company. In 2016 (the most recent report available), the major tobacco companies spent USD 9.5 billion per year—nearly USD 26 million every day—to promote their products. This amount is a slight increase from 2015 spending, but a 37.6% increase since the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement. Cigarette marketing expenditures increased to USD 8.7 billion in 2016 from USD 8.3 in 2015, due mainly to an increase in spending at the point of sale, including price discounts. The increase in cigarette marketing was coupled with an 11 percent increase in smokeless tobacco marketing. Tobacco companies spent an additional USD 759.3 million on smokeless tobacco marketing—more than five times the amount spent in 1998 and more than three times the amount spent in 2005 (USD 250.8 million), the year before cigarette companies entered the smokeless tobacco market. <ref name= "ALT_FED1">U.S. Federal Trade Commission , [https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/federal-trade-commission-cigarette-report-2016-federal-trade-commission-smokeless-tobacco-report/ftc_cigarette_report_for_2016_0.pdf Cigarette Report for 2016  ], 2018, pp. 15-19, Accessed January 2019 </ref> <ref name= "ALT_FED2"> U.S. Federal Trade Commission [https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/federal-trade-commission-cigarette-report-2016-federal-trade-commission-smokeless-tobacco-report/ftc_cigarette_report_for_2016_0.pdf Smokeless Tobacco Report for 2016 ], 2018, pp. 18-22, Accessed January 2019 </ref>
 
For decades, Altria has recognized the value of marketing to kids. In her Final Opinion in the federal racketeering case against the major tobacco companies, U.S. District Court Judge Gladys Kessler stated, 
  “From the 1950s to the present, different defendants, at different times and using different methods, have intentionally marketed to young people under the age of twenty-one in order to recruit ‘replacement smokers’ to ensure the economic future of the tobacco industry.” <ref> Tobacco Free Kids website, [https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/content/what_we_do/industry_watch/doj/FinalOpinion.pdf U.S. V. Philip Morris USA, Inc., et al., No. 99-CV-02496GK (U.S. Dist. Ct., D.C.), Final Opinion, August 17, 2006], 2006, Accessed January 2019</ref> 

In 1981, a Philip Morris report stated,
  “Today’s teenager is tomorrow’s potential regular customer, and the overwhelming majority of smokers first begin to smoke while still in their teens…The smoking patterns of teenagers are particularly important to Philip Morris.” <ref> Philip Morris, [https://www.industrydocumentslibrary.ucsf.edu/tobacco/docs/#id=fgpb0040 Special Report, “Young Smokers: Prevalence, Trends, Implications, and Related Demographic Trends” Bates No. 1000390803.] March 1981, Accessed January 2019 </ref>
Despite claims that they have changed, the 2014 Surgeon General’s report stated,
   “the tobacco industry continues to position itself to sustain its sales by recruiting youth and young adults…as consumers of all their nicotine-containing products including cigarettes.” <ref> U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) website, [https://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/50-years-of-progress/full-report.pdf The Health Consequences of Smoking—50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General], 2014, p. 867, Accessed January 2019 </ref>
 
This report added to the findings of a comprehensive report on the media and tobacco use, released by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in June 2008, that describes how tobacco company advertising targets specific populations, such as youth and young adults, by employing themes and messages that resonate with them. <ref> National Cancer Institute website, [http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/tcrb/monographs/19/m19_complete.pdf The Role of the Media in Promoting and Reducing Tobacco Use, Smoking and Tobacco Control Monograph], No. 19, NIH Pub. No. 07-6242, June 2008, Accessed January 2019. </ref>

===Political Spending===
In the 2017-2018 election cycle, Altria Group gave more than USD 800,000 in Political Action Committees (PAC) contributions to federal candidates (according to the Center for Responsive Politics). <ref name="ALT_CFRPL"> Center for Responsive Politics, [https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00089136&cycle=2018 Altria Group Contributions to Federal Candidates, 2018 cycle],  Accessed January 2019 </ref>
The Altria PAC also contributed to numerous other leadership PACs and party committees.{{r|ALT_CFRPL}}  Since 2005, Altria has given more than USD 6 million in PAC contributions to federal candidates. {{r|ALT_FED1}}  {{r|ALT_FED2}}

==Reporting and Regulation== 
===Tobacco Litigation===
Altria is involved in several legal proceedings as defendants and plaintiffs, at the state and federal level. A series of lawsuits against tobacco companies in Florida, known as the Engle progeny cases, where smokers have sued tobacco companies for damages, continues to proceed, with some results in Altria’s favor and some results in favor of the plaintiffs. Altria reports the most recent results in its annual reports to the SEC.  <ref name=”ALT_TL”> Altria Group, Inc., [https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/764180/000076418018000028/a2017form10-kq4.htm 2017 Annual Report Form 10-K], 27 February 2018, pp. 10, 71-96, Accessed January 2019 </ref>
 
Altria has also challenged the FDA in court over various regulatory actions, including the FDA’s revised guidance on substantial equivalence, and FDA’s application of the descriptor ban on cigars manufactured by Altria’s subsidiary, John Middleton, under the brand name “Black & Mild” after FDA deemed authority over cigars. {{r|ALT_TABLE|p=26-27}} 
 
Altria has also been involved in lawsuits at the state and local level, to block tobacco control policies from going into effect or to threaten states and localities from passing legislation.<ref> [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-11-15/smokeless-tobacco-makers-lawsuit-over-new-york-city-law-is-thrown-out Altria Suit to Block New York Flavored Tobacco Ban Dismissed], ''Bloomberg'', November 2011, Accessed January 2019 </ref>

==Partners and Allies==
===Audit and Accounting===
===Banking and Finance===
===Consultancies===
===Marketing, Communications and PR Companies===
=References=
{{reflist}}