{"url_path":"/sec/uvv/10-k/2026/item-10","section_key":"item-10","section_title":"Item 10 Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance","topic":"sec","document":{"doc_type":"10-K","doc_date":"2026-06-01","source_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/102037/0001628280-26-039511-index.html","accession_number":"0001628280-26-039511","cik":"0000102037","ticker":"UVV","issuer_name":"UNIVERSAL CORP /VA/","edgar_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/102037/0001628280-26-039511-index.html","primary_entity_key":"0000102037","primary_entity_name":"UNIVERSAL CORP /VA/"},"word_count":815,"has_tables":true,"body_markdown":"Item 10.  Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance \n\nExcept as to the matters set forth below, information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which is expected to be held on August 4, 2026 (the “2026 Proxy Statement”).\n\nInformation About Our Executive Officers as of June 1, 2026:\n\nName and AgePositionBusiness Experience During Past The Five Years\n\nP. D. Wigner (57)Chairman, President, and Chief Executive OfficerMr. Wigner was elected Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer in October 2024. He served as Senior Vice President since April 2024, Vice President since August 2007, and General Counsel and Secretary since November 2005. He also served as Chief Compliance Officer from November 2007 until September 2012. Mr. Wigner served as Senior Counsel of Universal Leaf from November 2004 until November 2005. He has been employed with the Company since 2003.\n\nS. S. Diel (54)Senior Vice President and Chief Financial OfficerMr. Diel was elected Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in April 2026, having previously served as Vice President, Business Development from May 2018 to April 2026. He has been employed with the Company since May 2018.\n\nA. L. Hentschke (56)Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer\nMr. Hentschke was elected Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in April 2015. From January 2013 to April 2015, he served as Executive Vice President of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated (“Universal Leaf”). From November 2009 to January 2013, Mr. Hentschke served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Leaf Tabacos, Limitada, the Company's operating subsidiary in Brazil. He has been employed with the Company and its affiliates since 1991.\n\nC. H. Claiborne (65)Vice President, General Counsel and SecretaryMrs. Claiborne was elected as General Counsel and Secretary effective April 2024. She also has served as Vice President since February 2018 having previously served as Vice President and Assistant Secretary from February 2018 to April 2024. From October 2004 to February 2018, Mrs. Claiborne served as Vice President, Associate General Counsel, and Secretary of Universal Leaf. She has been employed with the Company since December 1999.\n\nJ. Patrick O’Keefe (57)Vice President, IngredientsMr. O’Keefe was elected Vice President, Ingredients effective May 2023. Mr. O’Keefe is also Senior Vice President of Universal Global Ventures, Inc., a position he has held since April 2020. Prior to joining the Company in April 2020, Mr. O’Keefe was employed by Allen Flavors since July 2018, having served as their Chief Operating Officer, Americas from December 2018 until March 2020.\n\nS. J. Bleicher (49)Vice President and ControllerMr. Bleicher was elected Vice President and Controller in June 2019. Mr. Bleicher joined the Company in August 2014 and served as Assistant Controller through May 2019.\n\nM. Starke (50)Senior Vice President and Sales DirectorMr. Starke was elected Senior Vice President and Sales Director of Universal Leaf effective July 2023. He has served as Senior Vice President since 2017, as Vice President from January 2012 until February 2017, and Assistant Vice President from October 2007 until January 2012. Mr. Starke joined the Company in 1999.\n\nThere are no family relationships between any of the above officers.\n\n94\n\nThe Company has a Code of Conduct that includes the NYSE requirements for a “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics” and the SEC requirements for a “Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers.” The Code of Conduct is applicable to all directors, officers, and employees of the Company, including the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer. A copy of the Code of Conduct is available through the “Investors-Governance” section of the Company’s website at www.universalcorp.com. If the Company amends a provision of the Code of Conduct, or grants a waiver from any such provision to a director or executive officer, the Company will disclose such amendments and the details of such waivers on the Company’s website www.universalcorp.com to the extent required by the SEC or the NYSE.\n\nOther than the matters set forth above, the information required by Item 401 of Regulation S-K is contained under the caption “Proposal One - Election of Directors” of the 2026 Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated by reference herein.\n\nThe information required by Item 405 of Regulation S-K is contained under the caption “Stock Ownership—Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” of the 2026 Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated herein.\n\nThe information required by Item 406, Items 407(c)(3), (d)(4) and (d)(5), and Item 408(b) of Regulation S-K is contained under the captions “Corporate Governance and Committees—Committees of the Board—Nominating, Governance and Risk Committee” and “Corporate Governance and Committees—Committees of the Board—Audit Committee” of the 2026 Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated by reference herein.\n\nThe information required by Item 408(b) of Regulation S-K is contained under the caption “Corporate Governance and Committees—Insider Trading Policy” of the 2026 Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated by reference herein."}