[Random-bits] Kick Hank McKinnell (Pfizer CEO) off Stanford advisory board for bullying Philippines, Stanford alumni and student sign-on

[James Love]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-love/some-ask-pfizer-ceo-
hank_b_19891.html

April 27, 2006
Some ask Pfizer CEO Hank McKinnell be kicked off Stanford board for
bullying Philippines
James Love

Today is Pfizer's annual meeting, where the big news will be the
controversy over Hank McKinnell's hefty CEO salary hike and $83
million pension. The share price has dropped 46 percent under his
leadership, but he won't suffer. But also, a Stanford alumnus and
graduate student are asking other alumni and students to support a
request to kick McKinnell off a Stanford advisory board, over
Pfizer's bullying of Philippine government drug regulators.

Pfizer is suing government officials personally, to intimidate them
from taking even modest steps to lower the prices of Pfizer products.
The sign-on letter from Judit Rius and Julia Salzman follows. (If you
know someone who studied at Stanford, ask if they will sign).
Dear Stanford student or alumnae,

We hope that you can join us in signing this letter to Stanford
University asking for a public inquiry about Henry McKinnell, the CEO
of Pfizer, membership on the Stanford University Graduate School of
Business Advisory Council, as a consequence of actions recently
undertaken in the Philippines to intimidate government officials from
taking measures to lower the price of medicines. The letter explains
this in more detail, as do the three URLs for additional information.

If you are willing to sign this letter, please send a note to
judit.rius@cptech.org, by May 15, with the following information:

Name: ________________
Stanford status (student or alumnae) ___________________
Contact information (for verification) ___________________

Thank you very much

Judit Rius, alumni, LLM 2006
Julia Salzman, graduate student, department of statistics

-----------the letter follows------------

May XX 2006

Open Letter to John L. Hennessy, president of Stanford University; to
Robert L. Joss, Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean of the Stanford
University Graduate School of Business; and to all the Members of the
Stanford University Board of Trustees [1]

Dear President Hennessy, Dean Joss and Members of the Stanford Board
of Trustees:

As students and alumnae of Stanford University, we are writing to
request a public inquiry to consider the appropriateness of the
continued service of Dr. Henry A. McKinnell on the Stanford
University Graduate School of Business Advisory Council.

As chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Pfizer Inc,
Dr. McKinnell is undoubtedly among the most successful graduates of
Stanford Business School. But he is also responsible for an appalling
bullying of government officials in the Philippines. Pfizer has sued
both the government and two top drug regulators personally for taking
very modest steps to help the poor find less expensive sources of a
Pfizer medicine -- (amlodipine besylate, which is marketed by Pfizer
in the U.S. under the trade name Norvasc) -- after the patent on the
drug expires.

It would be one thing for Pfizer to engage in lobbying activity or
even litigation seeking to clarify its rights under Philippine Law.
But to sue the top drug regulator in the Philippines in their
personal capacities is an extraordinary act of intimidation. The
chilling effect of this litigation is evident in the Philippines, as
many government officials will now hesitate to take any measures
contrary to Pfizer's interests.

We believe that Pfizer's actions, for which Dr. McKinnell is
responsible, belie values and motives that are in stark contrast with
the lofty aspirations of Stanford University and its School of
Business. The mission of the Stanford Graduate School of Business
Advisory Council [2] is "to provide external perspective and review
as well as advocacy and support for the School's programs, strategic
direction, and overall objectives". The School's mission [3] is "to
create ideas that deepen and enhance the understanding of management,
and with these ideas develop innovative, principled, and insightful
leaders who change the world." The core values are also clear:
"believing in the power of ideas and intellect; striving for
excellence in all we do; acting with integrity; exhibiting compassion
and respect for others; and taking ownership of one's actions".

Dr. McKinnell's actions on behalf of his corporation are grossly
inconsistent with the school's mission because their seeming purpose
and effect is to emasculate and intimidate the poor and the
powerless. Therefore, we believe that the University should undertake
a public inquiry to consider whether these inconsistencies render Dr.
McKinnell unfit to serve on the Stanford University Graduate School
of Business Advisory Council.

Sincerely,


..................

[1] Members: http://www.stanford.edu/home/stanford/facts/board.html
[2] Advisory Council Homepage. Available at:
http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/advisorycouncil/
[3] Stanford Graduate School of Business Mission. Available at:
http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/about/

For more information:
http://secondview.blogspot.com/2006/03/pfizer-is-suing-philippines.html
http://www.cptech.org/ip/health/c/phil/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-love/terrorism-pfizer-
style_b_18290.html

--
Judit Rius Sanjuan
judit.rius at cptech.org
www.cptech.org


---------------------------------
James Love, CPTech / www.cptech.org / mailto:james.love@cptech.org /
tel. +1.202.332.2670 / mobile +1.202.361.3040

"If everyone thinks the same: No one thinks."  Bill Walton