Ethisphere Announces Annual List of 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Ethisphere Institute, a company dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability, today announced the release of its annual 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics. The list, which can be found online and in the most recent issue of Ethisphere Magazine, recognizes 100 individuals from around the world who had a positive impact on business ethics during the previous year.

“Hopefully, from the embarrassment that came to these individuals’ companies, new steps are taken to reduce the chances of a similar ethical lapse from happening again.”

The one to 100 ranking recognizes individuals in nine categories: Business Leadership, Corporate Culture, Design and Sustainability, Government and Regulatory, Investment and Research, Media and Whistle-Blowers, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Philanthropy and Thought Leadership.

“A lot of the major business ethics news from this year wasn’t as much about the recent financial crisis as it was about new government regulations,” said Stefan Linssen, Editor-in-Chief of Ethisphere Magazine. “Hundreds of companies are scrambling to update their ethics programs to accommodate new laws around anti-corruption and financial disclosure. So, appropriately, this year’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics is top heavy in the ‘government and regulatory’ category.”

Tied for the number one spot are Jack Straw and Willy Bach, the two British lawmakers who introduced the UK Bribery Act. The Act, which will create stringent new regulations over corporate gift giving, is arguably the most talked about 2010 legislative development. Another influential piece of regulation that made waves in 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act, earned its eponymous regulators a spot near the top of the list as well.

Other individuals who made the list include:

• Jeff Bezos – CEO, Amazon.com
• Mary Schapiro – Chairman, SEC
• Hu Shuli – Editor, China’s Century Weekly
• Nitin Nohria – Dean, Harvard Business School
• Irving H. Picard – Trustee, Bernard L. Madoff Bankruptcy Proceedings
• Elizabeth Warren – Special Adviser, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Ethisphere also released its annual list of 2010’s Top 10 People We Won’t Miss, a list of individuals who had prominent ethical “flubs.” This year’s list of People We Won’t Miss includes individuals such as an attorney in Ohio who regularly billed for more than 24 hours in a day, the former Chairman of BP for ethical lapses that were discovered after the massive oil spill, and a sunglass merchant who tried to sell glasses by harassing his customers.

“The 10 ‘People We Won’t Miss’ inadvertently draw attention to their companies’ ethics departments,” said Tim Erblich, Executive Vice President of Ethisphere. “Hopefully, from the embarrassment that came to these individuals’ companies, new steps are taken to reduce the chances of a similar ethical lapse from happening again.”

The full listing of the 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics, with descriptions of the recognized individuals and reasons for their listings, can be found online at http://ethisphere.com/2010s-100-most-influential-people-in-business-ethics/.

About Ethisphere Institute

The research-based Ethisphere Institute is a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability. The Institute’s associated membership group, the Ethisphere Council, is a forum for business ethics that includes over 200 leading corporations, universities and institutions. The Ethisphere Council is dedicated to the development and advancement of individuals on its membership council through increased efficiency, innovation, tools, mentoring, advice and unique career opportunities. Ethisphere Magazine, which publishes the globally recognized World’s Most Ethical Companies Ranking™, is the quarterly publication of the Institute. More information on the Ethisphere Institute, including ranking projects and membership, can be found at http://www.ethisphere.com.