UST Names Richard A. Kohlberger Senior Vice President, General Counsel

GREENWICH, Conn., Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- UST Inc. announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Richard A. Kohlberger as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary.

Kohlberger has been senior vice president with responsibility for corporate administration and human resources. Previously, he served as deputy general counsel and assistant corporate secretary. He joined the company in 1978 as a corporate attorney and has been promoted several times to positions of increasing responsibility during his UST career. He holds a law degree from St. John's University and a bachelor of science degree from Rider University.

Kohlberger will be replacing Richard H. Verheij, who is no longer with the company. Vincent A. Gierer Jr., chairman and chief executive officer, expressed his appreciation for Verheij's many years of dedicated service to the company and wished him success in his future endeavors. Verheij joined UST in 1986 and has been general counsel since 1994.

UST Inc. is a holding company for its principal subsidiaries: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company and International Wine & Spirits Ltd. U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company is a leading producer and marketer of moist smokeless tobacco products including Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal and Husky. Other consumer products marketed by the company include premium wines sold nationally through the Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest wineries, as well as sparkling wine produced under the Domaine Ste. Michelle label.