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

2008 Winners Recognized for Their Outstanding Leadership and Achievements in the
World of Business Ethics

People We Won`t Miss List Highlights 2008`s Top 10 Offenders

NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
After a year of daily headlines proclaiming ethical failings across a variety of
industries, The Ethisphere Institute announces its annual list of the 100 Most
Influential People in Business Ethics, standouts whose actions had the greatest
positive impression on the business ethics world in 2008.

"The risks of running an organization without a focus on ethical leadership have
never been greater," said Stefan Linssen, Publisher of Ethisphere Magazine.
"This year we saw a breakdown in corporate and government structures that could
have largely been prevented. Despite these failings, there were many people who
stepped up and made difficult choices to better the ethical business environment
for everyone."

Some of this year`s winners include Liu Qi, who oversaw the bid process as
Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 2008 Olympics. He secured the top
spot on the list for running one of the most stringent programs on
anti-corruption and bribery in history. Other key notables include Louisiana
Governor Bobby Jindal (#8), David Steiner, CEO of Waste Management (#11), Author
Thomas Friedman (#20), 2007 Winner Anne M. Mulcahy, Chairman and CEO of Xerox
(#22), Ben W. Heineman, Jr., Author and Former General Counsel of GE (#24), T.
Boone Pickens, creator of the Pickens Plan (#75) and San Francisco Mayor Gavin
Newsom (#85).

Some individuals from the 2007 ranking made the list again this year for their
continuing efforts to support ethical practices in their respective industries
and. There were seventeen total repeat winners from 2007, including Neelie
Kroes, European Commissioner for Competition, Leslie Gaines-Ross, Chief
Reputation Strategist of Weber Shandwick and Peter Kinder, President of KLD
Research & Analytics, Inc.

Ethisphere also released its annual Top 10 List of People We Won`t Miss, which
includes now infamous names such as Bernard Madoff, the disgraced Wall Street
investment manager, Robert Rubin, former Treasury Secretary and Citi executive,
former AOL employee Adam Vitale, and Rod Blagojevich, the impeached Governor of
Illinois. "These individuals represent colossal failings in the business ethics
space," continued Linssen. "We would hope that their misdeeds serve as
opportunities to improve and better our systems for detecting fraud and other
unethical behaviors in the future."

Developed with the help of professors from leading international business
schools such as DePaul, University of Delaware and Universidad Alberto Hurtado,
the Most Influential ranking recognizes individuals in nine categories:
Government and Regulatory, Business Leadership, Non-Government Organization
(NGO), Design and Sustainability, Media and Whistleblowers, Thought Leadership,
Corporate Culture, Investment and Research, and Legal and Governance.

The full rankings with descriptions of the recognized activities and the list of
advisory panel members are available in the Q4 2008 issue of Ethisphere Magazine
and online at www.ethisphere.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 and additional information on
submission requirements is available at www.ethisphere.com.

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.

Sloane & Company
Elizabeth Fluke, 212-446-1887
efluke@sloanepr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009