John Sullivan

Executive VP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Costco

Search every verified John Sullivan interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a 2016 presentation, John Sullivan discussed the Kraft Heinz merger, describing the competitive pressures that led to the deal. He stated that Kraft faced a competitive disadvantage against companies like PepsiCo and struggled to produce fresh food, which contributed to a decline in its stock. Sullivan noted that H.J. Heinz purchased Kraft in March 2015, a deal backed by Warren Buffett and engineered with 3G Capital. He said the merger was intended to help both companies overcome revenue challenges and that shareholders of Kraft received stock and a dividend of roughly $16.50 per share. Sullivan observed that stocks rose 35% after the merger's July 2015 market debut but that investors remained lukewarm and stocks were volatile thereafter. In a 2017 discussion with Matthew Kacsmaryk of the First Liberty Institute, Sullivan addressed the vocation of a lawyer and the importance of ethical practice. He commented on the reputation of lawyers as "liars" and referenced a scene from the film *Liar Liar* to illustrate tensions between winning and truthfulness. Sullivan argued that lawyers should look to the Texas disciplinary rules for evidence of virtues such as prudence, which he defined as "right reason in action" and "knowledge of reality and realization of the good." He cited Rule 1.03 on communication as an example, stating that a prudent lawyer cares for the client's interest, not just their own. Sullivan also criticized "magic word briefing," where practitioners selectively cite legal precedents to persuade a judge beyond the law's reach, warning that such misrepresentation "slowly dies" the rule of law.