WhiteWave hires new chief executive
Boulder – WhiteWave Foods, formerly White Wave Inc., on Thursday said that Joseph E. Scalzo will join the company as president and chief executive. Scalzo replaces WhiteWave founder Steve Demos, who left the company in March.
Scalzo is an executive at The Gillette Co. and will join the company after Gillette’s merger with Procter & Gamble closes. WhiteWave is a subsidiary of Dallas-based Dean Foods Co.
1 car dealer probe closed, 1 continues
The Colorado Motor Vehicle State Dealer Board on Thursday formally closed its investigation into Phil Long Ford of Denver. The investigation was prompted by a 9News report in May on unethical sales tactics.
Last month, the board dropped the probe into all but three remaining complaints against Phil Long. On Thursday, the board said it was still investigating nine to 10 complaints against Don Massey Pontiac GMC, also a subject of the 9News’ report.
$750,000 federal grant to boost air service
Durango is getting a $750,000 grant from the Department of Transportation under its small-community air-service development program.
It is part of nearly $19 million in grants around the country that help communities improve their air services. The grants go toward financial incentives to air carriers, studies and marketing programs.
Adega wants to hear from gift-card holders
Holders of gift cards for Adega Restaurant + Wine Bar, which closed Aug. 13, may send an e-mail requesting reimbursement to general manager Randall Corcoran, at Adega@adegadenver.com, with the following information: gift card number, amount, name, address, phone number and e-mail address. He will contact card holders before the end of August, said a spokesman for Adega. For more information, leave a message for Corcoran at the restaurant, 303-534-2222.
WomansWallstreet sales ordered stopped
State regulators on Thursday moved to stop WomansWallstreet.com from selling securities in Colorado. The Colorado Division of Securities entered a cease-and-desist order Thursday against the California investment firm and two salesmen, Solomon M. Reed Jr. and Ed Hanlin.
The state alleges that as early as April 2005, WomansWallstreet offered and sold securities that were not registered. It also alleges that Reed and Hanlin are not licensed as sales representatives with the state. They have agreed to stop selling securities until they come in compliance with state law, regulators said. WomansWallstreet has agreed to rescind all securities purchases made by Colorado investors.
GM extends discount to some ’06 models
General Motors Corp., looking to maintain the momentum of its hugely popular employee-pricing discount plan, has extended the promotion until Sept. 30.
The world’s largest automaker said Thursday the plan now includes select 2006 full-size trucks and sport utility vehicles,including Chevrolet’s Avalanche and Tahoe, the GMC Yukon and the Cadillac Escalade.
Lawsuits over Vioxx reach a total of 4,951
Merck & Co., the third-largest U.S. drugmaker, now faces 4,951 lawsuits over the painkiller Vioxx in state and federal courts, or 15 percent more than a month ago, lawyers said.
The number of Vioxx suits filed has increased by more than 650 since mid-July, Merck’s lawyers told U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon in New Orleans. Fallon is overseeing all federal litigation over the drug.
Robotic vehicle may see duty in Iraq
Northrop Grumman Corp. said a robotic vehicle it has developed may be sent to Iraq by the end of next year, the first use of an autonomous unmanned ground vehicle in a combat zone.
Northrop’s Tactical Amphibious Ground Support vehicle can be used for perimeter security and other surveillance missions, Paul Cabellon, a spokesman for the Los Angeles-based company, said in a phone interview Thursday.
Johnson & Johnson gets EU nod on buy
The European Union cleared Johnson & Johnson’s planned purchase of heart-device maker Guidant Corp. on Thursday, provided some operations are sold, but J&J said the closing will be delayed because key U.S. regulators have yet to sign off.
Johnson & Johnson spokesman Jeffrey Leebaw said the $25.4 billion cash-and-stock deal could not be finished until after the U.S. Federal Trade Commission makes a decision.
GM, DaimlerChrysler to join on hybrids
General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG confirmed Thursday they will jointly develop fuel-saving hybrid engines in hopes of cashing in on an expanding market now dominated by Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co.
The agreement was announced in December and formalized Monday.
