Matthew Boyle writes that some analysts are questioning whether Denise Morrison is the right choice to succeed Douglas R. Conant when he steps down as CEO of Campbell Soup next year. Morrison, who currently runs the under-performing soup business, has been named evp, COO and heir apparent, effective Oct. 1. "Putting the head of the soup business in charge of the company doesn't seem to be the way to go when you consider this is the business that appears to have most of the problems," says First Asset Investment Management's John Stephenson. "You could say the category is tough, …

GlaxoSmithKline, which markets over-the counter quit-smoking aids such as Nicorette gum and Commit lozenges, is asking the Food and Drug Administration to remove oral dissolvable tobacco products such as Camel Orbs from retailers' shelves until manufacturers "can demonstrate to the FDA that their marketing is appropriate for the protection of public health," David Kesmodel reports. Reynolds American, the second-largest U.S. tobacco company by sales, has been test-marketing Orbs, which are tiny oval-shaped lozenges. Similarly, Star Scientific sells dissolvable products such as Ariva and Stonewall. The companies don't market the products to people who want to stop …

Todd Wasserman interviewed Seth Godin about his new book, Linchpin, before the author and dynamic speaker's keynote at the IAB MIXX Conference & Expo 2010 in New York yesterday. The book offers advice on how to make yourself indispensible in a down economy. "Great creative work is rarely done in a beanbag chair by a coddled creative with a big budget and unlimited M&Ms," Godin tells Wasserman. "The situation many people are in now is either a platform to do your best, most generous work ever, or it's the plank you'll walk on as you whine your …

Andrew Hampp writes that two prime-time family movies designed to lure consumers to buy P&G products at Walmart -- "Secrets of the Mountain" and "The Jensen Project" -- are case studies for how networks and marketers can use entertainment to achieve scalable audiences, measurable product sales and active fan communities. There has been a demonstrable impact at the cash register. Walmart gave extensive front-of-store real estate to participating brands -- big boppers such as Tide, Pampers and Gillette -- to drive viewership. And DVDs, featured prominently in Walmart's electronics section, became bestsellers. P&G says that favorability scores for …

"Sex in advertising is one thing," writes Bruce Horovitz. "But sex with a vodka bottle may be quite another." That's exactly what appears to be going on in a print and billboard ad campaign for Skyy Spirits that shows a woman in red tights and heels appearing to have sex with a giant Skyy blue vodka bottle. "This is just ridiculous, it's porn-a-hol," says Marin Institute executive director Bruce Lee Livingston. "Underage kids will look at this and associate sexual prowess with drinking Skyy." He says that the ad also demonstrates that the alcohol industry can't police itself. …

The Segway has struggled to expand beyond its status as a niche product since its debut nine years ago. The death of owner Jimi Heselden, who accidently drove a Segway off a cliff yesterday, presents fresh challenges as the company tries to broaden its appeal, Chris Spillane and Ryan Flinn report. The two-wheeled, self-balancing device allows riders to remain upright and steer with body movements. "They have to use it as teachable moment for their customers," says Glenn Bunting, managing director of public relations firm Sitrick and Co. "What we would recommend is: Thoroughly investigate how this tragedy occurred, …