Appointments are overplayed

I was disappointed to read an inaccurate article about Nestlé: “Nestlé prepares for UK overhaul” (MW December 1).

While your journalist was in touch with our press office to confirm the details of two new appointments at no time did anyone attempt to verify the statement that: “Nestlé is restructuring its UK operation to reward a leading exponent of direct marketing within the company in a move which could be a significant pointer to future marketing developments.”

I find it difficult to understand how the appointment of a marketing manager from the UK to Vevey could be interpreted as a restructuring of UK operations nor how it could indicate a “new attitude to above-the-line advertising”. I would have hoped that you would have confirmed such a sweeping statement about a “UK overhaul” through the official press office channel.

You end the article by stating that Nestlé refused to comment. This is somewhat unfair as it portrays the company as one which refuses to help the press and also suggests the company had “refused to comment” on the the whole of the article, when a senior press officer was still endeavouring to answer your reporter’s enquiries at 6.20pm. She was unable to confirm information about the second appointment, that of Tony Aves, as there had been no announcement to employees, and information such as this would only be conveyed to third parties if staff had been informed first.

We believe at Nestlé in an open and helpful policy with the press. It is therefore a great disappointment that a breakdown in communication has resulted in such a misleading article.

H W Parsons

Public Affairs Manager

Nestlé

Croydon

Surrey