---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-24-094998"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "UVV"
cik: "0000102037"
company_name: "UNIVERSAL CORP /VA/"
filed_at: "2024-08-29T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-31T06:56:08.124204+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Universal names Preston D. Wigner as Chairman, President, and CEO effective Oct 1, 2024

## Summary
- George C. Freeman III retires as Chairman, President, and CEO effective Oct 1, 2024, not due to any disagreement.
- Freeman will serve as Vice Chair through Dec 31, 2024, then Senior Advisor through March 31, 2025 to aid transition.
- Wigner, age 55, has been with Universal over 20 years, most recently as Senior Vice President since Dec 2023.
- Succession plan assisted by a global leadership advisory firm over two years; board cites strong momentum for timing.
- Compensation changes for Freeman and Wigner to be determined later by the Compensation Committee.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-24-094998
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: UVV
- cik: 0000102037
- company_name: UNIVERSAL CORP /VA/
- filed_at: 2024-08-29T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/102037/000110465924094998/0001104659-24-094998-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/102037/000110465924094998/tm2422938d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-24-094998
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-24-094998.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-24-094998.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Preston D. Wigner was appointed as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at UNIVERSAL CORP /VA/.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On August 23, 2024, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Universal Corporation (the “Company”) named Preston D. Wigner, Senior Vice President, as Chairman of the Board (“Chairman”), President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective October 1, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/102037/000110465924094998/0001104659-24-094998-index.htm
- Executive change
  George C. Freeman, III retired as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at UNIVERSAL CORP /VA/.
  - Action: retired
  - Role: Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: George C. Freeman, III, who notified the Board of his retirement as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board on August 23, 2024, with such retirement effective October 1, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/102037/000110465924094998/0001104659-24-094998-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.