New COO elected at Universal Corporation

Universal Corporation’s board of directors has elected Airton L. Hentschke as senior vice president and COO, effective April 1.

Hentschke is due to replace W. Keith Brewer, whose retirement as of March 31 was previously reported on July 9.

Hentschke has more than 24 years of experience in leaf operations with Universal, and has worked since 2013 as executive vice president of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated. In this role, he supports Universal’s global tobacco operations.

Previously, Hentschke worked as regional director for the company’s operations in South America, and president of Universal Leaf Tabacos Limitada in Brazil, where he began his employment in 1991.