Responsibility stems from our Mission and Values and is at the core of how we operate every day. Our long-term success, requires us to listen to and talk with people about issues related to our companies’ products and how we operate. External engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders informs our business strategies, enhances our planning and sharpens our decision-making.
Our approach to responsibility is centered on five core elements:
- Board Governance and Executive Oversight
- Employee Involvement
- Continuous Improvement
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Reporting
Board Governance and Executive Oversight
The Nominating, Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Committee of the Board of Directors oversees Altria’s public affairs, corporate reputation and social responsibility strategies.
 | Marty Barrington, Vice Chairman, oversees:
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- engagement with the Food and Drug Administration and other external stakeholders.
Employee Involvement
The Altria family of companies sets expectations for its employees and holds individuals accountable for their actions. Our companies give employees an in-depth orientation on Altria’s Mission & Values and employees’ obligations related to responsibility and compliance. Altria’s companies reinforce those expectations through the performance review process. Employees are held accountable and compensated for performance and behavior that:
- meets business objectives;
- is consistent with Altria’s Values and societal alignment; and
- supports a culture of legal and regulatory compliance.
Continuous Improvement and Stakeholder Engagement
Altria’s companies evaluate responsibility opportunities in a variety of ways.
For example, as part of our annual strategic planning process, the companies consider opportunities for improvement in those areas and then prioritize where to focus resources. Periodically, the Altria family of companies also works with external firms to assess its activities and help identify additional areas for improvement.
We also listen to stakeholders. We are employers, customers, suppliers, taxpayers, regulated companies and neighbors in the communities in which we operate. Our long-term business success requires us to listen to and balance the perspectives people have about our businesses and the way we operate. External engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders informs our business strategy, enhances our planning and sharpens our decision-making. We apply what we learn from these interactions to:
- identify and manage emerging issues;
- inform our business processes, including our annual strategic planning, risk management and other decision making processes;
- continue our efforts to align with society; and
- annually prioritize topics and issues for both business action and reporting; and
- build stakeholder understanding of Altria and its companies.
REPORTING COVERAGE
We assess and report progress against nine responsibility focus areas, which are defined as strategic priorities by Altria’s Mission Goals and represent areas of interest among key stakeholder groups.
The report covers full-year 2011 which included 100% of employees and 100% of facilities owned or leased by Altria or one of its companies. With very minor exceptions, noted in this report, Altria’s companies operate and sell their products in the United States.
From 2007-2009, and at the end of 2011 through the beginning of 2012, Altria and its operating companies experienced significant restructuring and acquisitions. As a result, our companies are at various stages of maturity across our responsibility focus areas.
