Nooyi apologises for 'slight of hand' to protect PepsiCo

Economic Times ^ | 05/21/05 | TIMES NEWS NETWORK

[Pikamax]

Nooyi apologises for 'slight of hand' to protect PepsiCo

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2005 12:27:06 AM] Sign into earnIndiatimes points MUMBAI: Indra Nooyi, whose ‘America-as-the-middle-finger’ remarks ignited a raging blogstorm in the US, has tendered a formal apology after an initial clarification failed to douse irate Americans calling for a Pepsi boycott.

“I appreciate the honest comments that have been shared with me since then, and am deeply sorry for offending anyone,” she said in a statement posted on the Pepsi website. “Over the years I have witnessed and advised others how a thoughtless gesture or comment can hurt good caring people. Regrettably, I have proven my own point. Please accept my sincere apologies,” she added.

In her Sunday speech at the Columbia Business School graduation ceremony, Ms Nooyi had compared the five continents of the world to the five fingers of the hand. Europe was the index finger, Asia was the thumb, Africa the little finger and the US, the middle finger.

She said that the world regards Americans as boorish and therefore, they (Americans) must exercise caution and engender respect among the world. She also said that as the middle finger anchors the hand, it has a great responsibility to ensure that the hand functions smoothly.

The apology came after an initial clarification over her remarks at Columbia on Sunday failed to make critics hold their fire. Ms Nooyi had said that her remarks were “misconstrued and depicted in a different sort of context as unpatriotic”. “Although nothing could be further from the truth, I regret any confusion or concern that I may have inadvertently created,” the statement released by PepsiCo on Wednesday had said.

It is not known if even this apology will help. Irate Americans are asking for a boycott of Pepsi products, an explanation from Pepsi CEO Stephen Reinemund on a television or a talk show, while others are even hinting at drastic measures.

“The blunder needs to be contained. Abject apology followed by abject apology. Decide right now whether Indra Nooyi matters more than a lasting black eye. Think about the brand,” said a posting on hughhewitt.com, a well-known blog.

Ordinary Americans also seem to be upset. Graduate Wes Martin, who first informed www.powerlineblog.com about the speech, told the New York Sun that he was quite disturbed.

“My family had flown a great distance and spent a great deal of money to come and celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and were disturbed that the president and CFO of a US-based company made such a comparison at a business school ceremony,” he said.

Another reader, Hugh Marshall, questions the very basis of Ms Nooyi’s analogy. “Since when does the middle finger anchor the hand? Jerry Garcia didn’t even have a middle finger and it didn’t stop him from playing the guitar.

The opposing thumb is far more important and if there is any analogy here, it is that the US is a big opposing thumb that keeps the rest of the world from losing its grasp,” he added.

Eric Egland, member of the Iraqi Field Team’s Improvised Explosive Device Task Force, wrote that he had been humbled by the gratitude displayed by many Iraqis and Afghan people to the US for their action and that he found her comments offensive and off-base.

[HonestConservative]

You first.

[xone]

Whatsamatter Johnny? didn't short your Pepsico stock in time?

[JohnnyZ]

These views are not widespread. If you read the quotes from the speech she is not saying that they are the views of the foreign elite but the world.

I was referring to the foreign elites and media as opinion-makers for the masses -- I did not make that clear.

But from opinion polls & my experience I think those views ARE widespread. Not universal or uniform, but widespread.

I remain encouraged that in the speech Ms. Nooyi goes out of her way to proudly proclaim her patriotic love for the US. There was no need for her to do that if she didn't believe it -- I'm sure she didn't think her speech would become national news! or even be reprinted. That should not be discounted just 'cause she gets her news from CNN.

[JohnnyZ]

You first.

I have stated my evidence repeatedly. You have shown no basis for your statements.

[armymarinedad]

I work for Frito Lay. a division of Pepsico. Pepsico has sent care packages to deployed troops, given me products to send to my sons while they were deployed, and pays all employees that are activated guard the difference between their military pay and what they earn at Pepsico. We have also received financial help from them when holding Support the Troops rallies. Pepsi has also donated Support the Troops banners that were used at the Bangor Maine airport for returning troops and at a counter rally against A.N.S.W.E.R held in D.C. by Free Republic.
This was one employee of the company. I am appalled by her comments but they do not reflect the view of the company. They are her personal opinions.

[HonestConservative]

I'd like to buy the world a home and furnish it with love,
Grow apple trees and honey bees, and snow white turtle doves.
I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony,
I'd like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company.
[Repeat the last two lines, and in the background:]
It's the real thing, Coke is what the world wants today.

[Eagles6]

"There was no need for her to do that if she didn't believe it."

Course there is. It's called CYA-cover your a**.

Throughout her speech she makes it clear that we must change, not the morally challenged "world" kept in chaos and misery by tribalism and hatred.

A person has to do some rather convoluted mental gymnastics to not see the American bashing conveyed.

[John Lenin]

Go back to India beotch. Not that I ever buy pepsi unless I have to but as long as she is there I will avoid purchasing their products.

[JohnnyZ]

It's called CYA-cover your a**.

Why would she need to cover her tail? She clearly didn't expect anyone to read her speech besides her likely liberal audience. They were probably rolling their eyes when she was praising America.

Throughout her speech she makes it clear that we must change, not the morally challenged "world" kept in chaos and misery by tribalism and hatred.

So you're upset that she addressed those listening to her speech and not the millions of people who were not there?

She gave an uncontroversial speech saying "make sure when you engage in international business you show America in a good light rather than feeding a negative stereotype". What the big deal?

[Eagles6]

"So you're upset that she addressed those listening to her speech and not the millions of people who were not there?"

Sorry, she speaks for an American corporation with products bought by American consumers. She and Pepsico must bear the consequences of her actions for pandering to a liberal, American hating audience, which you admit she did.

As you can see by the uproar this speech as created and the posts here at FR, there are obviously many who feel as I do. Perhaps it is you that are misreading it.

End of conversation.

[Wormwood]

The Vice-President of my company recently completed a buying trip of India and China.

He brought back apalling descriptions of the toilet facilities he found there.

I see nothing wrong in pointing out that some people are content to wallow in their filth. These people are little better than third-world savages.

[JohnnyZ]

She and Pepsico must bear the consequences of her actions for pandering to a liberal, American hating audience, which you admit she did.

I admit no such thing. I said her patriotism probably annoyed her audience.

As you can see by the uproar this speech as created and the posts here at FR, there are obviously many who feel as I do.

And they have failed to cite reasons for their "feelings". I'm not surprised that people fall into the pattern of condemning a supposedly offensive speech, but when they can't cite what they don't like about it, it's clearly a knee-jerk reaction.

[texasbluebell]

I'm so sick of people trashing this country that I could scream.

If they want to criticize politicians, fine, that's one thing.

But to put down the country that has been so good to anyone who wants to work hard and get ahead, is just over the top.

This woman came here as an immigrant with her family, she has risen to the top, last year her total compensation was close to $9 million, if I read this link correctly (and that doesn't include what looks like about $19 million in stock options)

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:hRnYzdbXE8QJ:www.forbes.com/finance/mktguideapps/personinfo/FromMktGuideIdPersonTearsheet.jhtml%3FpassedMktGuideId%3D361040+indra+nooyi+salary&hl=en

And yet, it's apparently just fine to run off her mouth publicly about the land that has been so kind to her.

Enough with the America-bashing!

[Eagles6]

I admit no such thing. I said her patriotism probably annoyed her audience.

"She clearly didn't expect anyone to read her speech besides her likely liberal audience."

"So you're upset that she addressed those listening to her speech and not the millions of people who were not there?"

Sorry Johnny your words betray you.

And they have failed to cite reasons for their "feelings".

Read post #67 again.

[JohnnyZ]

So your response is to quote my words out of context? Nice.

"She clearly didn't expect anyone to read her speech besides her likely liberal audience SO SHE HAD NO REASON TO MAKE UP A FALSE PATRIOTISM AS YOU ALLEGE"

"So you're upset that she addressed those listening to her speech and not the millions of people who were not there?" has nothing to do with being liberal, and everything to do with giving advice to Americans when talking to Americans, rather than giving advice on how Pakistanis should behave to an audience of Americans.

Quit your misrepresentations.

[Eagles6]

"She clearly didn't expect anyone to read her speech besides her likely liberal audience SO SHE HAD NO REASON TO MAKE UP A FALSE PATRIOTISM AS YOU ALLEGE"

I never alleged that she made up false patriotism. She sounds as patriotic as hillary clinton, john kerry or jane fonda. Please make sure that you are addressing the correct FR member of the many with whom you disagree.

Didn't your parents tell you that shouting is impolite?

Your quotes are not taken out of context. Anyone is free to read the originals. If you are having trouble being understood, maybe it's not the audience. Let's agree to disagree.

P.S. I like the picture on your homepage but, unless you're a girl, the text is kinda creepy. Reads like a bio on a playboy centerfold.

Please go away now.

[JohnnyZ]

Your quotes are not taken out of context.

These are not the droids you're looking for.

Nope, doesn't work on me, fool.

[JohnnyZ]

I never alleged that she made up false patriotism.

You clearly did with your CYA allegation.

Lies after lies .....

[Law is not justice but process]

I graduated from grad school and law school at Duke. My grad school graduation speaker was Judy Woodruff of CNN (Duke Alumna). I did not even bother to go down to the field. In 1998 my law school graduation speaker was none other than George H.W. Bush! The Dukies were fit to be tied. I was on the field and in rapt attention for that one. The bratty little Dukies tuned their chairs around in circles and spoke to each other rather than listening. Oh, how little I miss the world of academia!