THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 30, 1994 TAG: 9412300495
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
Tobacco and food giant Philip Morris Companies Inc. may move its headquarters - and 2,000 jobs - from New York City to Richmond, WTVR-TV reported.
Philip Morris has threatened to move its headquarters if New York City bans public smoking, a measure the city is poised to approve. But a corporate spokesman said Wednesday that no commitment had been made to Richmond.
John Lenzi, manager of communications for Philip Morris, said company executives had met several months ago in Richmond with Mayor Leonidas Young and City Manager Robert Bobb. No commitment was made then and there have been no new talks with Richmond officials since, Lenzi said.
Bobb said that during the meeting with Philip Morris Chairman William Murray and other executives, he and Young invited the company to move its headquarters to Richmond if New York bans smoking in public places.
``We said we knew they were having some trouble with New York City and said we'd welcome them to the city of Richmond with open arms,'' Bobb said.
But he also said there has been no contact since the meeting and expressed surprise at the news report.
New York's City Council a week ago approved a bill that would extend the city's existing smoking ban to include all public places, including outdoor stadiums, most restaurants, bowling alleys and bingo parlors. Smoking in workplaces would be confined to separate, ventilated smoking rooms or private offices with three or fewer occupants who consent to smoking.
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has said he will sign the bill.
Philip Morris had $61 billion in sales last year. The company produces Marlboro, the world's top-selling brand, at its Richmond cigarette plant. by CNB