The most valuable corporate secrets were not found in the boardroom, but in the trash behind it.
In 2001, a shocking revelation rocked the corporate world: Procter & Gamble had hired external contractors to perform "competitive intelligence" on their arch-rival, Unilever. The mission? Sifting through dumpsters outside Unilever’s Chicago offices to recover shredded documents about new hair care products. This was not a back-alley heist, but a systematic operation approved by corporate departments.
This book provides a thrilling account of the fallout from the "Trashgate" scandal. It examines the blurred lines between legal market research and illegal espionage. You will learn about the sophisticated methods used by giants to protect and steal secrets, from infiltrators to high-tech surveillance.
The analysis dives into the public relations nightmare that forced P&G to pay a massive settlement and undergo years of independent audits. It serves as a masterclass in risk management and the ethical boundaries of competitive growth in a cutthroat global market.
Protect your business from invisible threats by understanding the lengths to which your competitors will go to secure a fractional market advantage.
Richard Standish
Author
corporate espionage unilever procter and gamble scandal competitive intelligence ethics dumpster diving business industrial spying cases b2b marketing strategy brand reputation management