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Altria (MO) details 2026 CEO transition and $1.5M RSU grant to new CFO

Filing Impact
(Moderate)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Altria Group, Inc. announced a planned leadership transition. CEO and director William F. Gifford, Jr. will retire effective May 14, 2026, at the conclusion of the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, after more than 30 years with the company and over five years as CEO. He will not stand for reelection to the Board and is expected to serve as a consultant through at least the end of 2026.

Effective the same date, the Board has elected current Executive Vice President and CFO Salvatore Mancuso as the next CEO and Heather A. Newman as Executive Vice President and CFO. Newman received a special grant of restricted stock units valued at $1,500,000, which will vest on November 20, 2030. Future compensation details for Mancuso as CEO and any additional changes to Newman’s compensation as CFO will be set later by the Board’s Compensation and Talent Development Committee. Altria also furnished a press release describing these transitions.

Positive

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Negative

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Insights

Altria outlines a long-dated CEO/CFO succession with internal promotions and defined equity incentives.

Altria is implementing an orderly leadership transition, with CEO William F. Gifford, Jr. scheduled to retire at the end of the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Naming current CFO Salvatore Mancuso as incoming CEO and elevating Heather A. Newman to CFO, both long-tenured executives, points to continuity in strategy and institutional knowledge.

The company highlights that Gifford is expected to serve as a consultant through at least the end of 2026, which may support knowledge transfer during the handover. Newman’s special restricted stock unit grant, valued at $1,500,000 and vesting on November 20, 2030, ties a meaningful portion of her compensation to long-term performance and retention. Actual financial or strategic effects will depend on decisions taken by the new leadership team and future compensation determinations by the Board’s Compensation and Talent Development Committee.

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FORM 8-K
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 8, 2025
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ALTRIA GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Virginia  1-08940  13-3260245
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
6601 West Broad Street,Richmond,Virginia23230
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (804274-2200
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
               Title of each class               
Trading SymbolsName of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.33 1/3 par value
MONew York Stock Exchange
2.200% Notes due 2027
MO27New York Stock Exchange
3.125% Notes due 2031
MO31New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o



Item 5.02.    Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On December 8, 2025, William F. Gifford, Jr. informed the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Altria Group, Inc. (“Altria”) of his decision to retire as a director of Altria and as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), effective May 14, 2026 at the conclusion of Altria’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (“2026 Annual Meeting”), having completed more than 30 years of distinguished service, including over five years as CEO. Accordingly, Mr. Gifford will not stand for reelection to the Board at the 2026 Annual Meeting.
On December 10, 2025, the Board elected Salvatore Mancuso to become Altria’s CEO and Heather A. Newman to become Altria’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), in each case, effective May 14, 2026 at the conclusion of the 2026 Annual Meeting.
Mr. Mancuso, age 60, currently serves as Altria’s Executive Vice President and CFO since 2020 and has been continuously employed by Altria or its subsidiaries in various positions since 1990.
Ms. Newman, age 48, currently serves as Altria’s Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer since March 2022, having previously served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy from January 2020 through February 2022, and has been continuously employed by Altria or its subsidiaries in various positions since 1999.
Altria expects that Mr. Gifford will serve as a consultant to Altria upon his retirement through at least the end of 2026.
In connection with her election, Ms. Newman received a special grant of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) valued at $1,500,000. The RSUs will vest on November 20, 2030.
Mr. Mancuso’s compensation as Altria’s CEO and any additional changes to Ms. Newman’s compensation as Altria’s CFO will be determined and approved by the Board’s Compensation and Talent Development Committee at a later date.

Item 7.01.    Regulation FD Disclosure.

On December 11, 2025, in connection with the transitions disclosed in Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, Altria issued a press release, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference in this Item 7.01.
In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. The information in this Item 7.01 shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing or document.

Item 9.01.    Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
99.1
Altria Group, Inc. Press Release, dated December 11, 2025 (furnished under Item 7.01)
104The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL (included as Exhibit 101)

2



SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

ALTRIA GROUP, INC.
By:/s/ W. HILDEBRANDT SURGNER, JR.
Name:W. Hildebrandt Surgner, Jr.
Title:Vice President, Corporate Secretary and
Associate General Counsel
                        

DATE:    December 11, 2025

3

FAQ

What leadership changes did Altria Group, Inc. (MO) announce in this 8-K?

Altria disclosed that CEO and director William F. Gifford, Jr. will retire effective May 14, 2026, and that the Board has elected Salvatore Mancuso as the next CEO and Heather A. Newman as Executive Vice President and CFO, each effective at the conclusion of the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

When will Altria CEO William F. Gifford, Jr. retire?

William F. Gifford, Jr. informed the Board he will retire as CEO and director effective May 14, 2026, at the conclusion of Altria’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and will not stand for reelection to the Board at that meeting.

Who is Altria’s incoming CEO and what is his background?

The Board elected Salvatore Mancuso, currently Executive Vice President and CFO, to become CEO effective May 14, 2026. He has served as Altria’s CFO since 2020 and has been continuously employed by Altria or its subsidiaries in various roles since 1990.

Who will become Altria’s new CFO and what is her experience?

Heather A. Newman will become Executive Vice President and CFO effective May 14, 2026. She is currently Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, previously served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy, and has been with Altria or its subsidiaries in various roles since 1999.

What special equity award did Heather A. Newman receive in connection with becoming CFO?

In connection with her election as CFO, Heather A. Newman received a special grant of restricted stock units valued at $1,500,000, which will vest on November 20, 2030.

Will William F. Gifford, Jr. remain involved with Altria after retiring as CEO?

Altria expects that William F. Gifford, Jr. will serve as a consultant to the company upon his retirement through at least the end of 2026, supporting the transition period.

Did Altria issue any public communication about these management transitions?

Yes. Altria issued a press release on December 11, 2025 describing the leadership transitions. The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is furnished under Item 7.01 of the report.
Altria Group

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