Jump to full article: New York Times, 2009-07-28
Author: DOUGLAS MARTIN
Intro: George Weissman, who helped transform Philip Morris from a midlevel tobacco company to a diversified conglomerate known for contributions to the arts, and who then led Lincoln Center for nearly a decade, died on July 24 in Greenwich, Conn. He was 90.
The cause was complications of a recent fall at his home in Rye, N.Y., his son Paul said.
Mr. Weissman began his corporate ascent in the movie and public relations businesses, and one of his early tasks as a young marketing executive at Philip Morris -- which became part of the Altria group in 2003 -- was to help develop the very effective masculine mythology of Marlboro cigarettes. . . .
Mr. Weissman also pushed Philip Morris to become a major donor to arts groups, particularly experimental undertakings like the Next Wave Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He said in an interview with The New York Times in 1990 that the arts initiative began with a traveling exhibition of modern art in 1965.
"We wanted to demonstrate to our own employees that we were an open-minded company seeking creativity in all aspects of our business," Mr. Weissman said. "And we were determined to do this by sponsoring things that made a difference, that were really dangerous." . . .
When Mr. Weissman became chairman and chief executive of Philip Morris in 1978, he told Fortune magazine that he saw himself as the quintessential Marlboro man.
"I'm no cowboy and I don't ride horseback," he said, "but I like to think I have the freedom the Marlboro man exemplifies. He's the man who doesn't punch a clock. He's not computerized. He's a free spirit." . . .
Under his leadership, Philip Morris employed blacks in prominent executive positions, resulting in boycotts in some places in the South. . . .
Mr. Weissman joined other business leaders in signing petitions against the Vietnam War. When the Nixon administration's "enemies list" . . .
Mr. Weissman told Forbes in 1980 that he felt Philip Morris had a "Masada complex,"
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Quotes from this article:
I'm no cowboy and I don't ride horseback, but I like to think I have the freedom the Marlboro man exemplifies. He's the man who doesn't punch a clock. He's not computerized. He's a free spirit.
George Weissman, who helped transform Philip Morris from a midlevel tobacco company to a diversified conglomerate known for contributions to the arts, and who then led Lincoln Center for nearly a decade.
We wanted to demonstrate to our own employees that we were an open-minded company seeking creativity in all aspects of our business. And we were determined to do this by sponsoring things that made a difference, that were really dangerous.
Former Philip Morris exec George Weissman, on the company's extensive arts donations.
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