According to one tobacco company VP, in 2001, a company name change could focus attention away from tobacco.
Source
Spector, J. "Direction for Altria." Truth Tobacco Industry Documents, 30 Nov. 2001. Email.
http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/ura22c00/pdfAckman, D. "Morris Philip Has It Backwards." Truth Tobacco Industry Documents, Oct. 2001: 424-25.
http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/fhz10c00/pdfSchwartz, J. "Philip Morris To Change Name to Altria Company Would Divert Attention from Tobacco." The New York Times. Truth Tobacco Industry Documents, 16 Nov. 2001. Article.
http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/giz12c00/pdf"When a company outgrows its name." Altria. Truth Tobacco Industry Documents, 2001. Advertisement.
http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/ahz12c00/pdf