Martin Barrington: Altria Group Chairman & CEO

Martin “Marty” Barrington was born in 1953. He holds an undergraduate degree in history and political science and received his law degree from Albany Law School. 

Marty began his legal career with the US government. He then spent 11 years in private firm practices. Marty joined Philip Morris USA in 1993. He became Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in 1998. 

Marty was Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Philip Morris International (a separate public company spun-off from Altria Group in 2008). His other positions include serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance and Administrative Officer of Altria Group. He served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Altria Group until May 17, 2012. 

In May 17, 2012, Marty became the Chief Executive Office and Chairman of the Board of Altria Group. Since March 1, 2015, he has also been its President. 

Many may not know be familiar with the Altria Group but must have heard about the many popular brands it carries. The Richmond, Virginia-based company has a history over 180 years old. Its companies has established some of the most popular brands in the world  such as Marlboro, Copenhagen, Skoal and Black & White. These brands lead their respective categories. 

Philip Morris USA today has around fifty percent share of the US cigarette market comprising of among others Marlboro, L&M, Parliament and Virginia Slims. US Smokeless Tobacco Company is the leading producer of moist smokeless tobacco in the world. Copenhagen and Skoal are the two leading US premium smokeless tobacco brands. 

John Middleton’s Black & Mild brands is one of the leading large machine-made cigars in the US. Nu Mark, and Altria Innovation Company, develops and markets innovative tobacco products for adult tobacco consumers. It sells MarkTen® and Green Smoke® e-vapor products. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates board wind portfolio has consistently received acclaim and high ratings from wine connoisseurs worldwide.

The Group which Marty heads also has a 27 percent economic interest in SABMiller plc. 

Not Everyone’s Friend

Luis C. Camilleri has a job the many ambitious executive would want to have, being the chairman and CEO of a large multinational company. Yet this company is not a friend to everyone which means it has a lot of detractors. The company we are talking about is Phillip Morris. This is the largest tobacco company in the world if one does not include the state-controlled China National Tobacco. It’s most popular brand is Marlboro.

The tobacco business is quite profitable with more than 1 billion tobacco users in the world based on facts from the World Health Organization.  According to the U.S. Public Health Service around 45% of U.S. smokers try to quit each year with only 4% to 7% of them able to do so.

The company does admit that tobacco products are addictive and harmful. They like to point out though that the company has been following regulations and that they are a legitimate business and not operating underground. 

Many executives would perhaps want to work in a company with a better public image. For Luis Camilleri though he hasn’t had any other job since joining the Philip Morris. Camilleri can be described as an international citizen. He was born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1955 but his family comes from Malta.

Since age 9 Camilleri had attended British boarding schools. He is fluent in English, French, Italian, and a bit of German.  In 1976, Camilleri obtained a degree in Economics and Business Administration from Lausanne University in Switzerland.

Camilleri’s first job was as a business analyst with W.R. Grace & Company in Lausanne. He then joined Philip Morris International Inc. in 1978 as a business development analyst with Philip Morris Europe. Camilleri rose through the corporate ranks being promoted to positions of higher responsibilities. He played a big role in developing the emerging markets of Eastern Europe.

Camilleri had been chairman of Kraft Foods from 2002 to 2007 and chairman and CEO of Altria Group since 2002. He became the chairman and CEO of Philip Morris International on March 2008 after the company was spun off from Altria Group, Inc.

Given the negative image of the tobacco industry in general Camilleri plays a challenging role in helping to manage the perception of the industry.  He has been up to the task and his company has also been making handsome profits.