Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) is furthering its fight against allegations made by activist investor Bill Ackman. He has been chipping away at the company’s credibility and business model for nearly two years now. Ackman has called Herbalife a pyramid scheme and said that the company’s distributors do not comply with laws governing multi-level marketing companies.
He has been trying to shut down the company, accusing it also of misrepresenting sales numbers and inflating prices for commodity products. Officials are investigating Ackman’s allegations.
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) creates compliance position
This morning, however, Herbalife said it created a new position to make sure that it operates within all of the laws. The controversial nutritional supplements MLM company announced that it has selected Pamela Jones Harbour to fill the new position of senior vice president of global member compliance and privacy.
Harbour will report to Executive Vice President and General Counsel Mark Friedman. She will lead a global compliance team that will cover 91 markets and ensure that the company’s distributors don’t make claims that they aren’t supposed to make.
Harbour’s responsibilities at Herbalife
Her responsibilities will include developing and furthering infrastructure and policies that educate, train and mentor Herbalife’s almost four million distributors around the globe. Her team will also monitor and enforce the company’s procedures. In addition, she will coordinate Herbalife’s cyber-security and global privacy efforts.
“Herbalife has helped millions of consumers pursue healthy, active lives through its excellent nutrition products,” Harbour said in a statement this morning. “I know first-hand how great the products are because I’ve been a customer for 10 years. My understanding of the industry and familiarity with the products have given me great insight into what a beneficial company Herbalife is, and I am delighted to join such a talented team.”
Harbour’s work history
Before joining Herbalife, she was a partner at law firm BakerHostetler. She was a Federal Trade Commission commissioner between 2003 and 2010 and a prosecutor for the New York State Attorney General’s office for 12 years.
