New York – January 15, 2009 – In the wake of an ongoing global meltdown of business ethics, the Ethisphere Institute and Dow Jones have partnered to host the first annual Global Ethics Summit on February 4 and 5, 2009 in New York City. The event will bring together Fortune 500 CEOs, nonprofit directors, general counsel, government officials and influential leaders in the business ethics space. Gathering at the Waldorf-Astoria, approximately 275 professionals will have an opportunity to learn best practices and share ideas and experiences while discussing proactive approaches for global anti-corruption initiatives.

“As we saw last year, ethical failings can quickly destroy organizations from the inside,” said Alex Brigham, Executive Director of The Ethisphere Institute. “At the Global Ethics Summit, leaders can share and learn in an open environment, a great step toward preparing an organization to avoid, detect and stop corruption and unethical behaviors.”

Combining Ethisphere’s expertise in business ethics and Dow Jones’ reputation as a go-to source in business news, the Global Ethics Summit will host panel discussions and keynote interviews on tactics for improving the ethical culture of organizations. Keynote speakers include:

• Chad Deaton – Chairman, President & CEO, Baker Hughes: Mr. Deaton will candidly discuss how to address effectively and rebound from noncompliance issues as corporate leaders face this challenge in an increasingly global setting.
• Brackett Denniston – Senior Vice President & General Counsel, General Electric: Mr. Denniston will share strategies for compliance and anti-corruption policies, highlighting what works and what doesn’t and those issues currently of most concern.
• Colin Dyer – Director & CEO, Jones Lang LaSalle: Mr. Dyer will outline how to tackle compliance issues in the real estate space while balancing relationships with landlords, tenants and government officials.
• Ben Heineman – Senior Fellow, Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Law School, Harvard University: Mr. Heineman will explain what corporations can and should be doing to fuse high performance with high integrity while discussing why the failure to do this has eroded trust in the free enterprise system and created a crisis in global capitalism.
• Walter Massey – Director, McDonald’s, Bank of America, and Delta: Mr. Massey, president emeritus of Morehouse College, will talk about what board members can and should be doing to ensure corporate executives are taking the necessary steps to keep companies out of trouble.
• Paul McNulty – Former Deputy Attorney General, United States Department of Justice & Partner, Baker & McKenzie: After revising the guidelines for and measures of corporate cooperation during an FCPA investigation as Deputy Attorney General, Mr. McNulty will discuss the changes and the steps companies facing an investigation should consider.

Representatives from Siemens, BAE Systems, Transparency International, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Accenture, Dell, KPMG, Chiquita Brands International, Corpedia and other leading organizations will offer expert commentary during panel conversations covering anti-corruption topics such as communicating zero tolerance from the top down and corruption’s hidden costs. In addition to discussions on the special challenges presented by doing business in certain high-risk regions, other panel topics include preparing employees to battle corruption through compliance, handling risks associated with third parties and navigating the increasingly complicated patchwork of regulations.

Registration and additional information are available at www.globalethicssummit.com.

Ethisphere is currently accepting nominations for its annual list of the World’s Most Ethical Companies to be published in the Q1 issue of Ethisphere Magazine. The deadline for entries is February 15, 2009. Additional information and submission requirements are available at ethisphere.com.

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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.org.

Media Contacts:
Elizabeth Fluke
Sloane & Company
efluke@sloanepr.com
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