John Dollisson

John Dollisson was a Vice President of Philip Morris Corporate Affairs in the Asian and Australian regions. Held this position from October 2, 1989 to October 1, 1990, when he resigned.

Biography
John Dollison, an executive in Philip Morris' Corporate Affairs Department, was highly contemptuous of public health authorities. In a 1988 speech, he called them "Meusli-eating, stool-watching joggers who know what is best for all of us."

In a 1990 speech before a marketing conference, Dollison described public health in general as PM's opponent in a "guerilla war," and described public health officials as "snipers" who have "laid their minefields." Dollisson even made biblical reference to the fight: "Our opponents sit and wait, watching our every move, every new product and every new marketing project... Like the proverbial lion in the Bible, they are poised to devour us whenever we give them an opportunity, and sometimes even when we don't....Today we are engaged in a 'war' against our industry... The kind of war we are engaged in is a guerrilla war...the most difficult kind of all. Our enemy might not be invisible but it often seems that way. Their tactics are to hit and run and then hit again...They have positioned their snipers and laid their minefields. It is the job of Corporate Affairs to discover where these threats are, and to warn you."

In a revealing description of PM's under-the-radar corporate tactics, Dollison boasted about how PM created and completely controlled a supposedly "independent" coalition called "The Committee for Freedom of Commercial Expression" in Denmark to oppose a tobacco ad ban directive. Dollison boasted about how this coalition was able to convince the Danish Ministry of Health to oppose a tobacco ad ban. He listed other countries where PM had used this secret tactic, and proposes that PM expand this tactic further to other countries:

"In Denmark, for example, we have created a coalition known (in English) as the Committee for Freedom of Commercial Expression...we were able to recruit more than 50 prominent Danes...The group has conducted media briefings, participated in debates, and written articles and conducted and publicized an opinion poll...Members of Government (including the Minister of Health) now regularly...consult with coalition members...The coalition was instrumental in securing the commitment and public declaration of the Minister Of Health to oppose an advertising ban...And, finally, the functioning of the coalition is managed at arms length - distanced from P.M., although completely controlled by P.M....We have set up similar coalitions in Holland, New Zealand and EEC for sport. Many more are required..."

Dollison also described how voluntary, self-imposed "advertising codes" (which, he admitted, make no more concessions than PM has already made in most countries in which they operate) help deflect further restrictions on tobacco advertising:

"What I am talking about is a list of self-imposed [advertising] constraints which will enable us to more plausibly claim the high moral ground in future controversies and, not least, to more easily manage and possible triumph in future crises...Such a regime, effectively implemented and sold, I believe, have the inestimable advantage of repositioning Philip Morris in the world-wide debate over the rights and wrongs of tobacco. It would gain us support from those with no affection for our enemies but who also harbour deep suspicion of our motives and methods. It would give us just that little bit more breathing space, just that little bit more room to maneuver.  Believe me, we need it." http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/nzd42e00]

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