“The Board respects Howard’s need to focus on recovery and expressed confidence that Billy will effectively lead the company through this challenging time,” Garnick said.

Willard has worked at Altria and its forerunner Philip Morris Companies Inc. for more than 25 years, previously serving as Altria’s chief operating officer. Before joining Philip Morris Companies, he worked for Bain & Company and Salomon Brothers Inc. A graduate of Colgate University, Willard also holds an MBA from the University of Chicago. He serves on the Management Roundtable and Kennedy Center Corporate Fund Board of Vice Chairs and is a member of the Catalyst CEOs Champions for Change’s board of directors.

On Thursday, Altria temporarily suspended operations at its Philip Morris USA cigarette manufacturing plant in South Richmond after a second Philip Morris employee tested positive for COVID-19. Altria expects the manufacturing center to suspend its operations for the next two weeks.

Altria employs approximately 3,000 people in the Richmond region between its corporate headquarters in Henrico and Philip Morris USA’s manufacturing facility and research center in Richmond.