Connections Could Prove Valuable as P&G Sues Kraft

Procter & Gamble is suing Kraft Foods, claiming that the new plastic container for Kraft’s Maxwell House coffee violates the patent rights of P&G’s Folgers coffee container (see article from Wall Street Journal Law Blog). We decided to create an IntellectSpace Knowledge Map of the connections between Kraft and P&G to see if any relationships exist that will aid either side in this legal battle.

An initial mapping of all of the past and current ties between the companies yielded numerous connections, so we narrowed our search to highlight some of the more noteworthy ties between some of the past and current Executives and Directors of both companies and found some interesting links. Mark D. Ketchum is shown to be directly connected to both Kraft and P&G, as he is now a Kraft Director and previously held leadership positions with P&G for 33 years until 2004. Ketchum’s longtime insider experience at P&G could prove useful for Kraft in forming a defense against the charges.

Two individuals that might have the opportunity to confer about this latest development are Ajay Banga (Director at Kraft) and James M. Kilts (Director at P&G). Both are connected through Citigroup, where Banga is currently the Co-Chairman/CEO of Citigroup’s Global Consumer Group International business and Kilts has served as a member of the company’s International Advisory Board. From this link through Citigroup, it is likely that the two are well acquainted. The relationship could become useful for either company involved in this lawsuit as a source of information about the other.

Click here for an interactive version of this IntellectSpace Knowledge Map (Internet Explorer browsers only): http://nv.intellectspace.com/ispace/GuestMonitor.aspx?id=524f8848-2212-4137-b6cc-0f519b4c0579