Gaston County (N.C.) commissioners are urging two trustees for Gastonia, N.C.-based CaroMont Health to step down due to alleged conflicts of interest surrounding the system's recently axed "Cheat Death" branding campaign, according to a Gaston Gazette report.
CaroMont Health hired marketing firm Immortology to oversee the system's rebranding campaign, which included the "Cheat Death" slogan that was formally abandoned yesterday due to controversy.
David Smith Jr. cofounded Immortology. He is also the son of CaroMont Health Trustee David A. Smith. The marketing firm also employs Haddon Mackie, who is the daughter of Spurgeon Mackie, chairman of CaroMont Health's board of directors.
Although the report said no laws were violated, Mickey Price, chairman of the Gaston County Board of Commissioners, and County Commissioner Chad Brown have criticized the situation as a conflict of interest.
"Now that this has come to light about employees of this company being related to two board members, it doesn't look good, and it doesn't sound good," Mr. Price said told the Gaston Gazette. "No matter how much they say they didn't know about it or influence it, half the people out there don't believe that."
A CaroMont spokesperson said the system's "professional relationship with Immortology posed no conflict of interest," and the firm was one of several to be interviewed prior to making a hiring decision, according to the report.
CaroMont's New "Cheat Death" Slogan Sparks Criticism
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CaroMont Health hired marketing firm Immortology to oversee the system's rebranding campaign, which included the "Cheat Death" slogan that was formally abandoned yesterday due to controversy.
David Smith Jr. cofounded Immortology. He is also the son of CaroMont Health Trustee David A. Smith. The marketing firm also employs Haddon Mackie, who is the daughter of Spurgeon Mackie, chairman of CaroMont Health's board of directors.
Although the report said no laws were violated, Mickey Price, chairman of the Gaston County Board of Commissioners, and County Commissioner Chad Brown have criticized the situation as a conflict of interest.
"Now that this has come to light about employees of this company being related to two board members, it doesn't look good, and it doesn't sound good," Mr. Price said told the Gaston Gazette. "No matter how much they say they didn't know about it or influence it, half the people out there don't believe that."
A CaroMont spokesperson said the system's "professional relationship with Immortology posed no conflict of interest," and the firm was one of several to be interviewed prior to making a hiring decision, according to the report.
More Articles on CaroMont Health:
CaroMont Pulls Controversial "Cheat Death" TaglineCaroMont's New "Cheat Death" Slogan Sparks Criticism
"Cheat Death:" CaroMont's New Slogan Launches Community Health Campaign