Marlboro cigarette maker Altria Group Inc Chief Executive Officer Howard Willard has contracted CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, the first top boss in corporate America publicly known to have the rapidly spreading infection, and is taking temporary medical leave.
Chief Financial Officer William Gifford Jr is taking over in his absence, according to a staff memo disclosed in a regulatory filing on March 20.
"Howard has been out of the office for several days, and we have notified those who were in close contact with Howard and asked them to self-quarantine for 14 days," the memo said.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for additional details on how or when Willard, 56, contracted the CCP virus.
From movie actor Tom Hanks and NBA player Kevin Durant to Sophie Trudeau, wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the global pandemic has killed thousands and upended the lives of millions.
Earlier this month, Britain's BT Group said its chief executive, Philip Jansen, tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel CCP virus.
Altria and thousands of companies have been hit hard by the CCP virus. It suspended operations at a manufacturing facility in Richmond, Virginia, after a second employee tested positive for the CCP virus.
Altria was already facing hurdles, mostly tied to its 35 percent stake in Juul Labs Inc, which has dwindled in value since several bans on e-cigarettes were carried out following a surge in teenage vaping and reported health-linked concerns.
Altria in February said Willard will not receive an annual incentive award as a result of its souring minority investment in Juul.
The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Party's coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.