Anne Landman's Collection
Corporate Affairs Conference / Action Plan
Abstract
In a strong denial of the public health role of the World Health Organization and the global health threat caused by their tobacco products, this Philip Morris International (PM) internal memo from Geoffrey Bible speaks of the "extraordinary influence" the World Health Organization has on government and consumers saying, "we must find a way to diffuse this and re-orient [the WHO's] activities to their prescribed mandate." Bible further discusses how PM can use its vast resources (like technology and access to food) to influence governments to turn against the WHO: "In addition, we need to think through how we could use our food companies, size, technology and capability with governments by helping them with their food problems and give us a more balanced profile with the government than we now have against WHO's powerful influence."
Bible mentions that a WHO initiative, a levy on tobacco sales in Victoria and South Australia to buy out tobacco sports and cultural sponsorships, "is a very effective strategy that we must stop."
Bible also speaks of "destroying" government attempts to regulate maximum constituent levels (MCL's) of toxic chemicals cigarette smoke, and links Philip Morris to the set-up of the smokers rights group Forest as well as a seemingly "independent" group called Libertad, which PM used to influence legislation. Bible proposes extending Libertad from France and Australia into other countries "so as to become a major influence in the formation of public policy."
Fields
- Quotes
PHILIP MORRIS INTERNATIONAL 120 PARK AVENUE NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017 CONFIDENTIAL To: Distribution Attached From: Geoff Bible Subject: Corporate Affairs Conference / Action Plan Date: December 13, 1988
I have now finalized the listing of the various topics we discussed at the Corporate Affairs Conference in Boca Raton and have agreed the responsibilities, timing, etc. I am anxious that we meet all deadlines and I therefore urge you to give the attached your full and prompt attention. Many thanks. Attachment GCB/jmf cc: R. W. Murray..
CONFIDENTIAL SCHEDULE OF ISSUES / RESPONSIBLE PARTY / TIMING OF PLAN
1) WHO / UICC / IOCU INITIATIVE
This organization has extraordinary influence on government and consumers and we must find a way to diffuse this and re-orient their activities to their prescribed mandate. In addition, we need to think through how we could use our food companies, size, technology, and capability with governments by helping them with their food problems and give us a more balanced profile with the government than we now have against WHO's powerful influence.
RESPONSIBILITY: A. Whist/C. von Maerestetten/Don Harris TIMING: January 31, 1989
2) Our tactics are the same old tactics that have not proved to be very convincing or successful. We need new thinking, lateral thinking and new ideas.
RESPONSIBILITY: J. Dollisson TIMING: December 3, 1989
3) We should do more on "Healthy Buildings" type of seminar which was so successfully held in Sweden. We should have more of them and make more use of them. To achieve this each Region will get back to AW with a proposed schedule for the next two years of seminars such as this which they think will be appropriate to hold together with their timing and place.
RESPONSIBILITY: A. Whist/D. Harris/C. yon Maerestetten TIMING: December 31, 1988
4) We need more scientific type seminars and we need to encourage more scientists to attend them. We must express our views at every opportunity at such seminars, e.g. Feb 89 Brussels Meeting.
RESPONSIBILITY: A. Whist TIMING: Regions to submit suggestions to A. Whist by December 31, 1988 (There are four seminars under consideration for 1989.)
5) Oppose airline smoking bans
a) Burson-Marsteller to complete a position paper by December 15.
b) M. Pottorff to complete the SAS study by December 31.
c) B-M to complete a comprehensive program by January 15. RESPONSIBILITY: A. Whist TIMING: January 15, 1989
6) Oppose public smoking legislation restricting smoking in restaurants.
a) Each Region to submit needs to M. Pottorff by December 31, 1988
b) A. Whist will develop support plan byJanuary 31, 1989. RESPONSIBILITY: Regional Corporate Affairs directors and A. Whist TIMING: December 31, 1988
7) Identify how we get our news into the public arena. This is key to our success on ETS. Once we identify "how" the next issue is who does it. Should it be B-M and Corporate spokesmen?
RESPONSIBILITY: N. Beane / A. Whist TIMING: January 31, 1989
...11) 11) ADDITIVES / Be prepared for January 1989 release by U.S. Surgeon General of Additives Region.
EEC/IBERIA/EEMA: Brief journalists in advance and attempt to pre-empt negative press comment. Have top 15 questions in by December 15 to Lee Pollak with suggested answers.
ASIA: No pre-emptive work will be done; Korea/Taiwan will be big problems; test their products urgently now so as to be prepared. Will send in questions / Answers by December 15. Pre-emptive work will be done and given to Lee Pollak by December 15....
...14) INFOTAB: Information Clearing House and CORESTA: A group of tobacco scientists set up by the Monopolies; can we change the objectives of these organizations to make them active representatives for our Industry's efforts to maintain its freedoms. CORESTA for example could be a good platform to turn WHO back to its real mandate. It could also be a fine link with FAO.
ACTION: We need to address the Terms of References of INFOTAB/CORESTA to see if we want to charge them to become an active body.
This should be raised at the February Meeting of INFOTAB. RESPONSIBILITY~ A. Whist to develop our views on this and feel out other members to see if there is sympathy to change...
TIMING: January 31, 1989.
15) FOREST: Should we strive to set up FOREST type organizations throughout our Regions?
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTION: Regional Presidents to submit plans for relevant major markets.
TIMING: March 31, 1989.
16) INTERNATIONAL SMOKERS SURVEY: The purpose of this is to establish a base of smokers' attitudes to help us:
a) shape our communications program b) to repeat them from time to time to establish bench marks and a trend as to how effective our work has been. We are talking mainly Europe here as Australia is already doing this; Latin America and Asia do not wish to do it now. The costs will be shared by the Industry (about $100M/market). There are about 10 markets involved and we are already doing it in Germany and have done it in Italy and France.
International Smokers Study (con't) The question is do we want basic answers to help us shape our program or do we want "marketable research"? We want both but one survey cannot achieve this. My sense is to conduct the basic research first for our internal purposes and then decide if we want to go further.
ACTION: To redefine the survey questionnaire to achieve exactly our aims. RESPONSIBILITY: D. Zelkowitz/M. Horst/B. Robinson/J. Nelson TIMING: January 15, 1989.
17) AECA/ NY SOCIETY:
ACTION: Maximize the use of this vehicle partlcularly in Asia.
RESPONSIBILITY: D. Devitre / A. Whist TIMING: 1989 18) ILO: The aim is to inhibit incorporation of ILO into WHO Anti-Smoking Program.
ACTION: Take urgent steps to contact Worker/Employer leaders of these groups in the ILO Governing Body. RESPONSIBILITY: A. Whist TIMING: January 1989
19) LIBERTAD: a) The discussions here reminded me of the 5% and 3% levy on tobacco sales in Victoria and South Australia to be used to buy out tobacco sports and cultural sponsorships. This emerged from WHO's program. This is a very effective strategy that we must stop. The question is how? ...
b) Expand the implementation of LIBERTAD beyond France and Australla so as to become a major influence in the formation of public policy.
- Company
- Philip Morris
- Author
- Bible, Geoffrey C. (PM President & CEO (1994-2002))After a long career with Philip Morris, the Australian-born Bible served as the company's CEO from 1994 until he reached the company's mandatory retirement age in 2002.
- Recipient
- #13434 (Winokur, Matt)
- Zelkowitz, David (Staff Vice President, Dir. Issues Management PM 1987)David Zelkowitz was an attendee at Philip Morris' Operation Downunder Conference held in June 1987 to determine a new strategy for dealing with the ETS issue. PM's "Accommodation" strategy was borne from this conference.
- Beane, R. Nelson (PM Business Development VP & Controller 1984-85)Vice President of Business Development and Controller for Philip Morris Inc. from 1984 to 1985. (Source: Philip Morris Summary - PMI Liability Notebook) He was Senior Vice President of Business Development for Philip Morris. (PMI's Introduction to Privilege Log and Glossary of Names, Estate of Burl Butler v. PMI, et al, April 19, 1996) Chair of ETS Management Committee.
- Bring, Murray H. (PM Attorney, Sr. VP & Counsel, Board of Directors)Senior Vice President and General Counsel of PM, 1994; former partner of Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C. Defended PM in the Cipollone case.
- Burrell, David (WD & HO Wills Personnel Operations and Employee Relations Ma)Australia
- Buss, Martin D. (PMI Planning VP, 1987-90)1990 Held this position from November 20, 1987 to June 29, 1990. Martin Buss was an attendee at Philip Morris' Operation Downunder Conference held in June, 1987 to determine a new strategic direction for the company to take around the ETS issue. The "Accommodation" strategy was borne from the conference.
- Buzzi, Aleardo G. (PMI President & CEO (1990-92))1992 Executive VP from November 20, 1987 to June 29, 1990. Director, President and CEO of Philip Morris International from February 1, 1990 to September 24, 1992 when he resigned.
- Devitre, Dinyar S (Vice President, Senior Vice President, Director, Chief Admin)1996 Tokyo. VP from November 20, 1987 to February 1, 1990. Senior VP from February 1, 1990 to June 7, 1993. Director from February 1, 1990 to September 24, 1992, when he resigned. CAO from April 25, 1991 to June 7, 1993. Executive VP from September 1, 1992 to June 28, 1996. Chairman and CEO for PMKK in 1993. Participant in PMKK Strategy Workshops.
- Dollisson, John A. (PM Asia Corporate Affairs VP (Asia/Australia))Corporate Affairs, PM USA. Held this position from October 2, 1989 to October 1, 1990, when he resigned.
- Francis, Phil (PMI ETS Group)Phil Francis was a Philip Morris employee.
- Gaisch, Helmut W. (PM Europe Science & Technology President)Director and Principal Scientist, Tobacco Science and Technology, Fabriques De Tabac Reunite, S.A., (1987). Helmut Gaisch was an attendee at Philip Morris's 1987 Operation Downunder Conference, held to determine a new strategy the company could take on the issue of ETS. (PM's "Accommodation" strategy was borne from this conference). Gaisch worked to thwart ETS regulations in Europe using data from INBIFO. He was a Philip Morris European scientist, Head of Laboratories, FTR/Philip Morris Europe. Member to Tobacco Advisory Council (TAC), 1987.
- Goldberg, Marc S. (PM Corp. Planning Sr. VP, Pres., PM Latin America)Marc S. Goldberg was a Senior Vice President of Corporate Planning and the President of Philip Morris Latin America. (PMI's Introduction to Privilege Log and Glossary of Names, Estate of Burl Butler v. PMI, et al, April 19, 1996)
- Harris, D.
- Holtzman, Alexander (PM Asst General Counsel. 1975-85.)
- Horst, Michael D. (PM II Switz. External Affairs VP)VP Philip Morris Corporate Services, Brussels, 1992. 1993 Switzerland. PM ETS group. Also served as Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Philip Morris International, U.S.A., in 1986. Attended INFOTAB/NMA meeting in Brussels Oct. 1986.
- King, J.
- Moreno, Francisco J (Former VP of PM, head of Latin American Div. '90-'93)Held this position from October 1, 1990 to June 7, 1993.
- Nelson, John R. "Jack" (VP of Corp. Affairs Planning for PM USA '86-87 & '92-93)Senior VP of Planning and Information systems at Philip Morris 1994-95
- Newman, Fredric S. (PM VP and General Counsel, 1987)Disreputable attorney at law. Closed down DeNoble project. Threatened employees with SLAP lawsuits. Advised all negative documents be destroyed. Fredric Newman was an attendee at Philip Morris' Operation Downunder Conference in June of 1987, held to determine a new strategy for dealing with the ETS issue.
- Parrish, Steven C. (PM, Sr. VP, General Counsel)Partner of industry law firm Shook Hardy and Bacon before going to work for PM. Was VP of PM Corporate Scientific Affairs in 1990. Defends PM on television.
- Pollak, Lee (PMI Exec. VP/Asst. Gen. Counsel)Lee Pollak was Executive Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for Philip Morris International. Pollak is formerly of Conboy, Hewitt, O'Brien & Boardman. (PMI's Introduction to Privilege Log and Glossary of Names, Estate of Burl Butler v. PMI, et al, April 19, 1996)
- Robinson, B.
- Rodriguez, C.
- Salguero, Carlos E. (PM Iberia Executive VP, President 1987-95)1995 Held this position from November 20, 1987 to June 27, 1995.
- Thoma, Walter (PM Europe Pres., Exec. VP, Lausanne, '87-'96)1996 President of EEC Region, Lausanne, in 1993. Executive VP from November 20, 1987 until at least June 28, 1996.
- von Maerestetten, Cynthia (PMI ETS Management)1989
- Webb, William H. (PMI Dir ('96), Exec. VP ('87-93), Pres. & CEO ('93-9))1996 Director from November 20, 1987 to February 1, 1990, when he resigned. Executive VP from November 20, 1987 to June 7, 1993. Director, President and CEO from June 7, 1993 until at least June 28, 1996.
- Whist, Andrew (PM External Affairs Sr. VP)Served as Senior Vice President of External Affairs for Philip Morris, Inc. in 1986 and again from 1992 to 1993.
- Region
- Europe
- Belgium
- Australia
- Sweden
- United States
- Type
- MEMO, MEMORANDUM
- Litigation
- Stmn/Produced
- Named Person
- Beane, R. Nelson (PM Business Development VP & Controller 1984-85)Vice President of Business Development and Controller for Philip Morris Inc. from 1984 to 1985. (Source: Philip Morris Summary - PMI Liability Notebook) He was Senior Vice President of Business Development for Philip Morris. (PMI's Introduction to Privilege Log and Glossary of Names, Estate of Burl Butler v. PMI, et al, April 19, 1996) Chair of ETS Management Committee.
- Brooks, B.
- Burrell, David (WD & HO Wills Personnel Operations and Employee Relations Ma)Australia
- Carroll
- Devitre, Dinyar S (Vice President, Senior Vice President, Director, Chief Admin)1996 Tokyo. VP from November 20, 1987 to February 1, 1990. Senior VP from February 1, 1990 to June 7, 1993. Director from February 1, 1990 to September 24, 1992, when he resigned. CAO from April 25, 1991 to June 7, 1993. Executive VP from September 1, 1992 to June 28, 1996. Chairman and CEO for PMKK in 1993. Participant in PMKK Strategy Workshops.
- Dollisson, John A. (PM Asia Corporate Affairs VP (Asia/Australia))Corporate Affairs, PM USA. Held this position from October 2, 1989 to October 1, 1990, when he resigned.
- Dulles, F.
- Gaisch, Helmut W. (PM Europe Science & Technology President)Director and Principal Scientist, Tobacco Science and Technology, Fabriques De Tabac Reunite, S.A., (1987). Helmut Gaisch was an attendee at Philip Morris's 1987 Operation Downunder Conference, held to determine a new strategy the company could take on the issue of ETS. (PM's "Accommodation" strategy was borne from this conference). Gaisch worked to thwart ETS regulations in Europe using data from INBIFO. He was a Philip Morris European scientist, Head of Laboratories, FTR/Philip Morris Europe. Member to Tobacco Advisory Council (TAC), 1987.
- Harris, D.
- Horst, M.
- Moreno, F.
- Nelson, J.
- Newman, F.
- Okeefe, B.
- Parrish, S.
- Pollak, L.
- Pottorff, Mary
- Robinson, B.
- Smith, G.
- Surgeon General
- Thoma, W.
- Utz, C.
- Von maerestetten, C.
- Whist, A.
- Winokur, M.
- Zelkowitz, D.
- Operation/Project
- Boca Raton Action Plan (Corporate Affairs Action Plan)The plan resulted from the Boca Raton Corporate Affairs Conference of 1988 in which strategies were refined to meet various challenges to the industry regarding taxes, advertising, ETS, etc.
- Named Organization
- Burson Marsteller (Tobacco industry PR firm)Tobacco Industry public relations firm.
- Coresta (Industry-affiliated Int'l scientific/research group)An international organization whose objective is "to improve cooperation in scientific research and tobacco." Consists of 186 member companies/institute from 54 countries, including tobacco, paper and filter companies, and universities engaged in tobacco research.
- Fao, Food and Agriculture Org
- FOREST (European smokers' rights group)Started in 1979 with 12,000 British pounds of tobacco and allied industry funding, this group was used by the tobacco industry to make pro-tobacco views appear to emanate from an entirely "independent" group. Smokers' rights groups (SRGs) were usually operated through public relations companies, to help maintain the appearance of distance from the tobacco industry. FOREST coordinated on issues with the British tobacco industry, and attended meetings of the industry group ICOSI. FOREST gave the tobacco industry the clandestine ability to introduce pro-tobacco opinions and defenses to society without fear of backlash against their products, or the burdens caused by legal liability for manufacturing the product. The industry organized SRGs internationally to create the appearance of a worldwide grassroots uprising by smokers against smoking restrictions worldwide.
- Ianos
- Ilo
- International Tobacco Information Inc. (INFOTAB) (Int'l Tobacco Information Clearinghouse for industry, NMAs)ICOSI (International Commission on Smoking Issues) was formed around 1978. It was reorganized in 1980 or 1981 as INFOTAB. Infotab is an information clearinghouse that collects articles and legislatlve information. Data Is funnelled to Infotab by members of the industry. The founding companies are R.J. Reynolds International, BAT, Philip Morris, Reemtsma, Rothmans, Imperial andGallaher. The last three companies dropped in and out. A company had to give three years' notice to resign. BAT gave its notice to resign in late 1987 in conjunction with B&W's resignation from TI. BAT and B&W's resignations were partially because of the Barclay controversy. The companies pay the Infotab dues, but the beneficiaries include the national manufacturing associations(NMAs) . NMAs worldwide receive newsletters from Infotab. They can call and get information on various topics. G.C. Hargrove of BAT was on Infotab.
- Intl Confederation of Sports
- Iocu
- Libertad (3rd party mouthpiece for PM)Used to support freedom of commercial speech. Group that shares ideas with Philip Morris (e.g., freedom from government regulation) that Philip Morris supported as a third party ally to help push their agenda.
- Sas
- Uicc
- Usti
- World Health Organization (Concerned with global public health)International organization concered with public health worldwide
- Aeca
- Subject
- government activity
- Corporate strategy
- smokers' rights group
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