George C. Freeman III has been the Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation since April 2008. He's been with the company for a long time, starting in 1997, and has held various important roles, including General Counsel and Secretary. Freeman...

George C. Freeman III has been the Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation since April 2008. He's been with the company for a long time, starting in 1997, and has held various important roles, including General Counsel and Secretary. Freeman led the company during a period of significant growth and strategic shifts, showing his capability in navigating challenges. He became a director of Universal in 2007 and has also served as Chairman of the Board since 2008. Freeman emphasizes performance-based standards; his compensation plans are tied to how well the company performs on key metrics like earnings and economic profit. He has a solid track record in executive leadership, and interestingly, he's involved with Tredegar Corporation as well, providing him with broader industry insights. His wealth has seen substantial fluctuations, indicating bold moves and significant confidence in his company's direction.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Universal Corporation CEOs

U

George C. Freeman, III

Ex-CEO of Universal Corporation

Education

J.D. from University of Richmond School of Law, B.A. from University of Virginia

Field of Expertise

Legal & Compliance - Law

Sector of Economy

Consumer Defensive

Born

April 15, 1959 - 66 years ago

CEO of Universal Corporation for

16 years 0 months (Oct 2008 - Oct 2024)

Previous Experience

Various roles within Universal Corporation

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of George C. Freeman, III

Holdings

See how much did George C. Freeman, III make over time.

Freeman's insider trading history paints an interesting picture. In 2019, his wealth was heavily tied to Universal Corporation, peaking at around $14.46 million. His holdings showed noticeable fluctuations, particularly in 2021 when he reached the highest valuation of $17.20 million...

Freeman's insider trading history paints an interesting picture. In 2019, his wealth was heavily tied to Universal Corporation, peaking at around $14.46 million. His holdings showed noticeable fluctuations, particularly in 2021 when he reached the highest valuation of $17.20 million in June. However, by November 2021, this value slightly dipped to $14.71 million. In the following years, there were consistent fluctuations with the value fluctuating between $16 million and $21 million, reflecting his active trading and potentially strategic decisions to sell or hold his stocks based on market insights and company performance. As of now, Freeman appears to have a strong interest in maintaining a steady investment in his company, indicating confidence in its future.

Total Stock Sold

$2.31M

UVV

$2.31M

35,737 UVV shares

What if they kept their stock?

If George C. Freeman, III didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra UVV35,737 shares worth $1.61M.
This is -30.54% and $706.70K less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

UVV

104,049 shares

UVV

Recent Charitable Transactions

UVV

5,400 shares

UVV

Jun 21, 2024

Charity

UVV

5,000 shares

UVV

Dec 26, 2023

Charity

UVV

10,000 shares

UVV

Nov 15, 2023

Charity

UVV

2,000 shares

UVV

Jun 1, 2023

Charity

UVV

12,700 shares

UVV

Dec 21, 2022

Charity

UVV

6,000 shares

UVV

Dec 28, 2021

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of George C. Freeman, III.

UVV

5,400 shares

UVV

Jun 21, 2024

Charity

UVV

43,969 shares

UVV

May 30, 2024

Received

UVV

5,000 shares

UVV

Dec 26, 2023

Charity

UVV

10,000 shares

UVV

Nov 15, 2023

Charity

UVV

2,000 shares

UVV

Jun 1, 2023

Charity

UVV

45,791 shares

UVV

Jun 1, 2023

Received

UVV

12,700 shares

UVV

Dec 21, 2022

Charity

UVV

31,165 shares

UVV

Jun 2, 2022

Received

UVV

6,000 shares

UVV

Dec 28, 2021

Charity

UVV

4,400 shares

UVV

Jun 16, 2021

Charity

Compensation History

See how much did George C. Freeman, III make over time.

In 2023, Freeman's total compensation was about $5 million, which included a base salary of $1.07 million and bonuses reflecting his performance against specific business goals. Throughout the years, the majority of his compensation has been performance-based, where he achieved an impressive 165.2% of his target bonus, showcasing his focus on aligning his interests with those of the company. Compensations over the years have varied, peaking at $5.34 million in 2022, with significant portions coming from bonuses tied to company success. His compensation structure promotes a strong connection between his pay and Universal Corporation's performance, indicating a strategy aligned with shareholder interests.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$3.94M

Salary

$1.07M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy aims to attract, motivate, and retain management talent while aligning executive compensation with performance and shareholder interests.

Bonus

$1.77M

Board Justification

The annual cash incentive award for fiscal year 2024 was based on the Company’s achievement against pre-established performance metrics, resulting in a payout of 165.2% of the target bonus opportunity.

Other

$24.48K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes financial planning services, 401(k) company match, and matching gifts to charities.

Restricted Stock

$1.07M(20.5K RSU)

Board Justification

The stock awards granted in fiscal year 2024 consisted of restricted stock units and performance share units, with 20,500 shares vesting based on performance metrics.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for fiscal year 2024 included adjusted economic profit and adjusted earnings per share.

Other Universal Corporation CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Universal Corporation

Preston D. Wigner

CEO of Universal Corporation

October 2024 - Present