Profiles in Leadership - UW-Milwaukee

Honors
Hans G. Storr Recognized
with Honorary Doctorate
Hans G. Storr, Retired Executive
Vice President of Philip Morris
Companies (now Altria Group,
Inc.), was awarded an Honorary
Doctorate in Commercial Science from
the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee at
its Spring Commencement ceremony.
UWM’s honorary degree recognizes a
career of extraordinary accomplishment,
evidenced by the sum and distinction of
the individual’s professional achievements,
extraordinary intellectual merit, and
personal integrity.
In bestowing the degree, Chancellor
Carlos Santiago said, “Hans Storr, a 1961
graduate of our accounting program, is
arguably one of UWM’s most prominent
alumni, having attained international
recognition and acclaim in the fi eld of
corporate fi nance.”
Hans Storr left post-war Europe in 1954
at the age of 22 with a one-way ticket to
Lubar School Dean V. Kanti Prasad presents Hans G. Storr with his doctoral hood.
Milwaukee, in search of opportunity and
a better future. He found both at a level
that few people attain.
After earning his degree, Storr joined
Milprint Company in Milwaukee as an
accountant. In 1957, Milprint was acquired
by Philip Morris, and there began Mr.
Storr’s steady rise as a corporate fi nancier.
Mr. Storr was transferred to Philip Morris
International in 1966, where he served as
Staff Assistant to the Vice President of
Finance. He was selected as Vice President
of Finance of the company’s European,
Middle Eastern, and African operations
in 1974, and became corporate Vice
President of Finance in 1978. His ascendancy
into the executive ranks continued,
as he was named Chief Financial Offi cer
in 1979, and elected Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Offi cer in
1991. In 1982, he took on the additional
responsibilities of Chairman and CEO
of Philip Morris Capital Corporation.
A member of the Board of Directors of
Philip Morris in 1982, Mr. Storr held
these prestigious positions until his
retirement from the company in 1996.
Geoffrey C. Bible, Retired Chairman of
Altria Group, Inc., who worked with Storr
for almost 30 years, noted of his
outstanding career: “As the years passed
by, Hans’ reputation in the fi nancial
world both here and abroad grew
exponentially, and it is my opinion he was
considered to be the most effective and
impressive CFO of all the large public
companies in America.”
“Hans Storr’s career achievements vividly
demonstrate the fruits of hard work, the
value of personal integrity, the power of
intellect, and the transformative impact
of higher education,” said Lubar School
of Business Dean V. Kanti Prasad. “He
serves as a great role model for younger
generations of our students.”
FALL 2007 3