Jeffrey Wigand | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Wigand in 2006 | |
| Born | Jeffrey Stephen Wigand (1942-12-17)December 17, 1942 (age 82) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Education | MA/PhD |
| Alma mater | University at Buffalo |
| Occupation(s) | Expert witness, consultant |
| Known for | Whistleblower on thetobacco industry |
| Spouse | Hope Elizabeth May |
| Website | JeffreyWigand.com |
Jeffrey Stephen Wigand (/ˈwaɪɡænd/; born December 17, 1942) is an Americanbiochemist andtobacco industrywhistleblower.
He is a former vice president ofresearch and development atBrown & Williamson inLouisville, Kentucky, who worked on the development of reduced-harm cigarettes and in 1996 blew the whistle on tobacco tampering at the company. This was adapted for 1999 filmThe Insider, withRussell Crowe portraying Wigand.[1]
He currently lectures around the world and serves as a consultant for various tobacco issues.[2][1]
Wigand was born inNew York City and grew up in theBronx and laterPleasant Valley, New York. After a brief time in the military (including a short assignment inVietnam), he earned aMaster's and a PhD from theUniversity at Buffalo inBiochemistry.[3][4][1]
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(April 2025) |
Prior to working forBrown & Williamson, Wigand worked for several health care companies, includingPfizer andJohnson & Johnson. In addition, he was employed as General Manager and Marketing Director atUnion Carbide in Japan, and as a senior vice president atTechnicon Instruments.[4][1]
In late 1995 TheState of Mississippi subpoenaed Wigand to testify in the state's lawsuit against thirteen major tobacco companies ('Big Tobacco'). The state contended the companies' products led to the tobacco-related deaths of Mississippi residents. The state sued because it had to spend state funds to treat their illnesses.[5]
Wigand later became famous as awhistleblower, when he appeared on theCBS news program60 Minutes on February 4, 1996. He stated that Brown & Williamson had intentionally manipulated its tobacco blend with chemicals such asammonia to increase the effect ofnicotine in cigarette smoke.[6] According to Wigand, he was subsequently harassed and received anonymous death threats.[7][1]
Wigand had begun to work forBrown & Williamson in January 1989. He was fired on March 24, 1993. He says that he was fired as awhistleblower because he knew that high-ranking corporate executives knowingly approved the addition of additives to their cigarettes that were known to becarcinogenic and/or addictive, such ascoumarin.[8][6][1]
Brown & Williamson undertook a concerted effort to discredit Wigand, which included hiringTerry Lenzner's company Investigative Group International, to produce a 500-page dossier on Wigand, which was distributed to the media. The dossier backfired, as news outlets examined the claims in it, finding many claims of misconduct to be unsubstantiated or trivial.[7]
Following this he taught physical science, biology, and Japanese atduPont Manual Magnet High School inLouisville, Kentucky, in which job he was named the 1996 Teacher of the Year for the state of Kentucky.[1]
Wigand no longer teaches high school and instead lectures worldwide to a variety of audiences including children, college, medical and law students, and a diverse group of policy makers.[citation needed] He has consulted with governments throughout the world ontobacco control policies.[citation needed]
He was portrayed byRussell Crowe in the 1999 filmThe Insider directed byMichael Mann.[1]
He met his first wife, Linda, in 1970 while attending ajudo class.[9]
Wigand is now married to Hope Elizabeth May, an American philosopher, author, and lawyer[10] who is a professor atCentral Michigan University inMount Pleasant, Michigan, where they both now reside. They met when May requested he speak for a university event.[11]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
