Congrats on that: Letter Complimenting a former business acquaintance for national recognition. You pull the new issue of Fortune magazine out of the stack of mail and are quite pleased to see Indra Nooyi on the cover. Not only was Nooyi recently appointed CEO of PepsiCo, but Fortune has just named her the most powerful woman in American business. You got to know her briefly when PepsiCo acquired your previous employer, Quaker Oats, in 2001. You haven't spoken to her since then, but you have followed her accomplishments in the business media.
Your task: Write a brief letter (no more than one page) congratulating Nooyi on her promotion to CEO and on being recognized by Fortune. Make up any details you need to create a credible message. You can learn more about Nooyi's career and accomplishments in the news release "PepsiCo's Board of Directors Appoints Indra K. Nooyi as Chief Executive Officer Effective October 1, 2006," on the PeopsiCo website, www.pepsico.com (look under News, PeopsiCo Releases, 2006). Address the letter to Indra Nooyi, CEO, PepsiCo, Inc., 700 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY 10577.
Organize the message using the direct approach, and adopt a personal tone as you offer sincere congratulations on the recipient's recent honors. Since it's been several years since the two of you have been in contact, briefly mention a detail or two to help her remember who you are.
In addition, develop an audience profile describing the recipient, using the bulleted list on pages 93-94 to develop your own audience profile.
Your letter will be graded by these criteria:
1. Meets minimum criteria: final deadlines met; less than one page; typed; single spaced
2. Organized in direct order:
- Opener states main idea
- Middle provides explanation and details
- Close restates the main point.
4. Gives reader essential information
5. Shows "you" attitude
7. Tone is friendly, positive, courteous
8. Sentences are emphatic, concise, fluent
9. There are no errors