Jeffrey Stephen Wigand (; born December 17, 1942) is an American biochemist and tobacco industry whistleblower.
He is a former vice president of research and development at Brown & Williamson in Louisville, Kentucky, who worked on the development of reduced-harm cigarettes and in 1996 exposed tobacco tampering at the company. This was adapted for 1999 film The Insider, with Russell Crowe portraying Wigand.
He currently lectures around the world and serves as a consultant for various tobacco issues.
Wigand later became famous as a whistleblower, when he appeared on the CBS news program 60 Minutes on February 4, 1996. He stated that Brown & Williamson had intentionally manipulated its tobacco blend with chemicals such as ammonia to increase the effect of nicotine in cigarette smoke.
Wigand is now married to Hope Elizabeth May, an American philosopher, author, and lawyer who is a professor at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, where they both now reside. They met when May requested he speak for a university event.
References
External links
- From Knowledge to Action: An Interview With Dr. Jeffrey Wigand January 12, 2010
- An Interview with Dr. Jeffrey Wigand: Part 2 January 19, 2010
- Newslaundry Interviews - Dr Jeffrey Wigand