The 2009 Top Companies for Leaders Study Officially Launches Around the Globe

Hewitt Associates, The RBL Group and Fortune Again Partner to Undertake the Most
Comprehensive Global Leadership Study
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.--(Business Wire)--
Which companies are best when it comes to leadership? On January 9, 2009,
organizations around the world will be able participate in the Top Companies for
Leaders study, sponsored by Hewitt Associates, a global consulting and
outsourcing company, in partnership with The RBL Group, a firm dedicated to
helping clients deliver strong leadership and strategic HR capability, and
Fortune Magazine.

"Leadership talent is in short supply around the world, yet only a handful of
companies are able to consistently groom and grow great leaders through the
ranks, even in the most demanding talent markets and in the most volatile
economic and financial climates," said Robert Gandossy, leader of Hewitt's North
American Leadership Consulting practice. "This study will provide valuable
insights on how companies excel at building leaders and enhance their leadership
brand to drive business success. We look forward to partnering again with The
RBL Group and Fortune Magazine to uncover the best practices of companies that
successfully grow and produce great leaders in an increasingly complex and
global marketplace."

The most comprehensive global leadership study in the marketplace, the research
will examine how organizations choose and develop leaders and determine if
there`s a correlation between leadership practices and business results. The Top
Companies for Leaders study will rank top companies from Asia-Pacific, Europe,
Latin America and North America with innovative leadership programs. Companies
named to the global and regional lists will be announced in the November 2009
issue of Fortune Magazine. Hewitt has conducted Top Companies leadership studies
in the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific since 2002. This is the second
year it has partnered with The RBL Group and Fortune Magazine.

"In up and down markets, organizations with a strong leadership brand deliver
value to employees, customers and investors," said Dave Ulrich, co-founder of
The RBL Group. "We are excited to learn through this study how to make
leadership brand a practical reality. Top companies for leaders invest in
leadership development that turns customer expectations into employee actions. "

Participation Requirements

All organizations-public or private-can participate in the Top Companies for
Leaders study. Participation in the study is free, and companies will receive an
exclusive research brief available only to the 2009 participants. The first part
of the selection process is simply completing the survey. For more information
on participating, please email topcompaniesforleaders2009@hewitt.com.

About Hewitt Associates

For more than 65 years, Hewitt Associates (NYSE: HEW) has provided clients with
best-in-class human resources consulting and outsourcing services. Hewitt
consults with more than 3,000 large and mid-size companies around the globe to
develop and implement HR business strategies covering retirement, financial and
health management; compensation and total rewards; and performance, talent and
change management. As a market leader in benefits administration, Hewitt
delivers health care and retirement programs to millions of participants and
retirees, on behalf of more than 300 organizations worldwide. In addition, more
than 30 clients rely on Hewitt to provide a broader range of human resources
business process outsourcing services to nearly a million client employees.
Located in 33 countries, Hewitt employs approximately 23,000 associates. For
more information, please visit www.hewitt.com.

About The RBL Group

Founded by widely recognized HR and leadership experts Dave Ulrich and Norm
Smallwood, The RBL Group is a global professional services firm committed to
creating value through the effective management of people and organizations. RBL
works with clients to implement cutting edge leadership practices and to advance
the transformation of strategic human resource management. Their clients include
top companies throughout the world and across a wide range of industries. The
RBL Group is recognized as the trusted advisor to the world`s top HR leaders and
their senior executives. To learn more please visit www.rbl.net.

About Fortune

FORTUNE is a global leader in business journalism known for its unrivaled access
to industry leaders and decision makers. Founded in 1930, FORTUNE magazine has a
worldwide circulation of more than 1 million and a readership of nearly 5
million and is home to some of the strongest business franchises, including:
FORTUNE 500, FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For, America`s Most Admired
Companies, Fastest Growing Companies and Most Powerful Women. FORTUNE Live Media
extends the brand's mission into live settings, hosting a wide range of annual
conferences for top-level executives, including the FORTUNE Global Forum and the
Most Powerful Women Summit. FORTUNE magazine`s online home is CNNMoney.com, the
most visited and utilized business destination website, attracting nearly 10
million unique visitors per month, according to Nielsen/NetRatings. FORTUNE,
along with MONEY, FSB: FORTUNE Small Business, and CNNMoney.com, is part of The
Fortune|Money Group, a division of Time Inc, a subsidiary of Time Warner, a
leading media and entertainment company.

Hewitt Associates:
Maurissa Kanter, 847-442-0952, maurissa.kanter@hewitt.com
or
The RBL Group:
Eric Denna, 801-616-5455, edenna@rbl.net

Copyright Business Wire 2009