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CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, UNIVERSAL CORP., RICHMOND
CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, UNIVERSAL CORP., RICHMOND
Virginia Business// August 29, 2024//
Universal Corp.’s CEO since 2008 and president since 2006, Freeman is a Richmond native at the helm of the world’s largest supplier of tobacco leaf. Freeman previously served as the corporation’s general counsel and secretary from 2001 to 2005; before, he worked at law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth (then Hunton & Williams) in the early to mid-1990s.
In fiscal year 2024, Universal Corp. reported $2.75 billion in revenue, a 7% increase from fiscal 2023. In February, Universal Corp. declared an annual dividend of 81 cents per share on the common shares of the company, marking the 54th consecutive year the company has increased its dividend payments. In June, the company made the 70th annual Fortune 1000 list, coming in at No. 979.
A graduate of the University of Virginia and Yale Law, Freeman also serves on the board of Richmond-based Tredegar and the Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia. Freeman serves as immediate past chair of the Virginia chapter of The Nature Conservancy.
HOBBY/PASSION: Bird hunting, shooting sports, fishing
INTERESTING PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: Turkey
