Alliance One Names Joel Thomas CFO, Succeeding Robert Sheets

(RTTNews) - Alliance One International, Inc. (AOI), a supplier of leaf tobacco to cigarette manufacturers, said Monday that Robert Sheets, Executive Vice President - Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, will be retiring from the company on December 31, 2013, after more than 15 years of service at the company.

Sheets will be succeeded by Joel Thomas, currently vice president - treasurer, as executive vice president - chief financial officer, with effect from January 1, 2014. Meanwhile, Sheets will continue to serve as executive vice president - chief administrative officer for a transition period.

Pieter Sikkel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alliance One said, "I would like to thank Robert for his contributions and dedication to Alliance One. Throughout his tenure with the Company, Robert has been a valuable partner in developing and executing our strategy and I am pleased that we will continue to benefit from his experience and expertise for a period of time to allow for a smooth transition."

The incoming CFO, Thomas, joined Morrisville, North Carolina-based Alliance One in December 2005 as Vice President - Treasurer and has been instrumental in leading the company's Treasury function since the merger of Standard Commercial Corp. and Dimon, Inc., in May 2005. Prior to joining the company, Thomas worked for Wachovia Securities for ten years in their investment banking group.

In addition, Alliance One promoted Nichlas Fink to the role of Vice President - Corporate Controller and Chief Compliance Officer.

Fink has served as the company's chief compliance officer since April 2012, and previously served as the company's Director of Corporate Compliance since October 2010 and as Financial Reporting Manager since April 2008. Prior to joining the company, Fink worked for Ernst & Young LLP and other accounting firms.

Alliance One also said that Hampton Poole, currently Vice President - Corporate Controller, will become Director of Supply Chain. The company noted that the new position was created to continue the efficiency drive launched by the company in late 2011. Poole will report to Jose Maria Costa, Executive Vice President - Global Operations and Supply Chain.

AOI closed Friday's trading at $3.09, down $0.01 on a volume of 122,600 shares.