Michael Szymancyk

Michael Szymancyk is the Chairman and CEO of the Altria Group, formerly Philip Morris, since 2008. He was paid $24.1 million in 2010.

Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council
Altria is a longtime member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), and an Altria representative sits on the Corporate ("Private Enterprise") Board as of 2011.

(see also ALEC and Tobacco)

Background
Szymancyk joined Philip Morris USA in 1990 as Senior Vice President of Sales. He held a number of executive positions at PM USA and was appointed President and CEO of that company in 1997. Previously, he worked in sales and marketing at Procter & Gamble and Kraft."

Altria/Philip Morris is the world's largest tobacco company. In the U.S. it controls about half of the tobacco market. In 2007 Altria spun off its food division Kraft Foods Inc. (Jell-O, Kool-Aid, Maxwell House). Altria Group's primary holdings until 2007 included Philip Morris companies as well as Kraft Foods until 2007.

Related SourceWatch articles
ALEC and Tobacco