Open letter to Jeremy Heywood issued by AHA

04 Nov 2014

The Alcohol Health Alliance, of which our College is a member, has written an open letter to the Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood, expressing concern around the decision to allow John Manzoni, the new CEO of the Civil Service to remain as a non-executive director to SAB Miller.

In the letter, which has signatures of support from more than 80 professionals, the AHA say they find it ";inexplicable and troubling that Mr Manzoni retains a paid position as non-Executive Director of one of the world’s largest brewers, SAB Miller, while stepping down from two other paid positions in the energy sector";. They point out that SAB Miller has strong commercial companies to the Philip Morris tobacco company and as a result, Mr Manzoni’s position could pose a serious threat to the perceived neutrality and integrity of the role of the UK civil service in policy-making. They add, ";We believe this situation threatens to undermine the impartiality of the civil service and presents a direct conflict of interest with UK public health policy goals.";

The Alcohol Health Alliance represents more than thirty leading health organisations. The full text of the letter to Jeremy Heywood can be accessed here.

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