Fired Executive Accuses Wal-Mart of 'Smear Campaign'
DETROIT, Mich. -- Julie Roehm, the advertising executive who was fired from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. at the end of 2006, has released a statement calling the retailer's accusations against her a "smear campaign."
The statement, released by Roehm's Detroit attorney, said Wal-Mart based its recent allegations of an office affair and acceptance of gratuities on "anonymous witnesses and ... selective use of email, taken way out of context.
"Wal-Mart is insinuating things about my personal life and pretending I violated some code of ethics with advertisers, all to distract from the reality that it didn't want my form of progressive marketing," Roehm said in the statement.
Roehm has sued Wal-Mart, claiming there was no valid reason for her sudden dismissal as s.v.p. of marketing communications.
Earlier this month, the retailer filed a countersuit that accused Roehm of using company-paid travel to conduct an affair with a junior executive, of accepting meals and liquor from companies competing for its advertising business, and pursuing a job with one bidder.
The statement, released by Roehm's Detroit attorney, said Wal-Mart based its recent allegations of an office affair and acceptance of gratuities on "anonymous witnesses and ... selective use of email, taken way out of context.
"Wal-Mart is insinuating things about my personal life and pretending I violated some code of ethics with advertisers, all to distract from the reality that it didn't want my form of progressive marketing," Roehm said in the statement.
Roehm has sued Wal-Mart, claiming there was no valid reason for her sudden dismissal as s.v.p. of marketing communications.
Earlier this month, the retailer filed a countersuit that accused Roehm of using company-paid travel to conduct an affair with a junior executive, of accepting meals and liquor from companies competing for its advertising business, and pursuing a job with one bidder.