Manufacturing 2024: WILLIAM F. ‘BILLY’ GIFFORD JR.

Joining the company at its subsidiary Philip Morris USA in 1994, Gifford became CEO of Fortune 500 tobacco products manufacturer Altria Group in 2020. He has held various executive posts at Altria for nearly three decades.

Among Altria’s operating companies, in addition to Philip Morris USA, are U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Helix Innovations and NJOY.

In June, Altria gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to market four menthol-flavored e-cigarettes — the first non-tobacco flavored e-cigarette products to be approved. Altria’s NJOY ACE already was the sole pod-based e-vapor product to secure FDA authorization to market four of its tobacco-flavored products.

Also in June, Altria subsidiary Helix Innovations filed premarket applications with the FDA for its on! Plus oral nicotine patches, which it says is larger than the leading tobacco-derived nicotine brands’ pouches. Altria manufactures its current line of on! pouches at its Philip Morris USA plant in south Richmond.

Gifford pledged to advance more women into leadership as a Catalyst CEO Champion for Change, a global organization that promotes women-friendly workplaces.