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Three months after the Dean of the University of Minnesota Medical School, Dr. Deborah Powell [12], joined the board of PepsiAmericas [13], controversy continues over her dual roles. Senior vice president for health sciences at the university Frank Cerra defended Powell's role to Pioneer Press reporter Paul Tosto: "What better way to get knowledge about obesity into the company than by bringing it into the boardroom?" The company, which has revenues of $3.7 billion, describes itself as "the world's second-largest manufacturer, seller and distributor of PepsiCo [14] beverages." Robert Jeffery, a director of the Obesity Prevention Center at the university, said Powell's appointment flagged the need for a "more serious conversation about where the ethical lines lie in corporate consulting." Michele Simon [15], the author of "Appetite for Profit [16]," is critical of Powell's appointment: "When an expert joins this kind of board, clearly it's going to compromise their [the university's] ability to speak out."
Links:
[1] http://dev.prwatch.org/users/7/bob-burton
[2] http://dev.prwatch.org/topics/corporations/corporate-social-responsibility
[3] http://dev.prwatch.org/topics/health/obesity
[4] http://dev.prwatch.org/topics/public-relations/issue-management
[5] http://dev.prwatch.org/topics/public-relations/third-party-technique
[6] http://dev.prwatch.org/topics/children
[7] http://dev.prwatch.org/topics/ethics
[8] http://dev.prwatch.org/topics/health
[9] http://dev.prwatch.org/topics/international
[10] http://dev.prwatch.org/topics/marketing
[11] http://www.addtoany.com/share_save?linkurl=http%3A%2F%2Fdev.prwatch.org%2Fspin%2F2007%2F03%2F5827%2Fpepsis-dean&linkname=Pepsi%27s%20Dean
[12] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Deborah_Powell
[13] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/PepsiAmericas
[14] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/PepsiCo
[15] http://www.prwatch.org/node/5803
[16] http://www.informedeating.org/newbook/newbook.htm
[17] http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/state/minnesota/16834570.htm