New York Stock Exchange Governance Services, a subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE), today announced the winners and finalists of its inaugural Governance, Risk & Compliance Leadership Awards. The awards program recognizes exemplary leaders in governance, risk and compliance.
“Corporate governance plays a large role in dictating a company’s success as well as a board’s contribution to long-term value, which is why we are so excited to recognize outstanding companies and individuals who have gone above and beyond the basic requirements of governance, risk, and compliance with our Leadership Awards,” said Jean-Marc Levy, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Issuer Services at NYSE.
2014 NYSE Governance Services Leadership Awards
Best Governance, Risk, and Compliance Program at Large-Cap Company: Demonstrates that governance, risk, and compliance issues are top of mind. Solid policy and training methods are in place and assuring that industry and regulatory best practices permeate the organization.
Winner: | PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) | |
Finalists: | 3M Co. (NYSE: MMM) | |
Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE) | ||
Xerox Corp. Ltd. (NYSE: XRX) | ||
Best Governance, Risk, and Compliance Program at Small to Mid-Cap Company: Demonstrates that governance, risk, and compliance issues are top of mind. Solid policy and training methods are in place, assuring that industry and regulatory best practice permeate the organization.
Winner: | The AES Corp. (NYSE: AES) | |
Finalists: | AECOM Technology Corp. (NYSE: ACM) | |
AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) | ||
CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) | ||
Best In-House Legal Team for Corporate Governance: Legal team has stood the test of time and has met every legal, ethical, and compliance challenge with the utmost integrity and know-how.
Winner: | Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) | |
Finalists: | Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) | |
MetroPCS Communications (NYSE: MUS) | ||
Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) | ||
Exemplary CD&A for Compensation Committee: Mindful that expectations regarding transparency and full disclosure are constantly rising, this company produces a superior CD&A that satisfies the most demanding shareholder, providing clear rationale for all pay decisions and persuading shareholders that the company has instituted a pay model that is properly aligned with its unique strategic objectives.
Winner: | Cameco Corp. (NYSE: CCJ) | |
Finalists: | EMC Corp. (NYSE: EMC) | |
The Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) | ||
United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: TW) | ||
Exemplary Shareholder Engagement: Places a high value on shareholder relations by demonstrating a willingness to participate in meaningful, transparent dialogue with shareholders via accessible venues and channels. The efficacy of these endeavors will be reflected in a company that is able to successfully work through shareholder engagement challenges in a manner that satisfies all parties.
Winner: | Prudential Financial Inc. (NYSE: PRU) | |
Finalists: | EMC Corp. (NYSE: EMC) | |
PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) | ||
Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) | ||
Nonexecutive Chairman of the Year: Nonexecutive board chair has a passion for advancing principles of good governance throughout the organization, the ability to objectively solve the most difficult boardroom challenges, and the experience to offer independent, sound guidance when the company faces both hurdles and opportunities.
Winner: | Marge Magner, Gannett Co. Inc. (NYSE: GCI) | |
Finalists: | R.D. Burck, American Campus Communities (NYSE: ACC) | |
Kerrii Anderson, Chiquita Brands International Inc. (NYSE: CQB) | ||
Ike Harris, CIGNA Corp. (NYSE: CI) | ||
Jim Nevels, The Hershey Co. (NYSE: HSY) | ||
Sheila Penrose, Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL) | ||
Exemplary IT Governance at Board Level: Recognizes the necessity of proactively addressing cyber risk in the company’s overall governance program, making a robust effort to ensure it anticipates and prepares for emerging IT risks and cyber threats.
Winner: | AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) | |
Eligible candidates included all publicly traded companies in the U.S., regardless of where they are listed. The award recipients were selected by an independent panel of judges, who bring a range of governance and compliance expertise to the program. Judges include:
- Kenneth Bertsch, Former President, Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals
- William B. Chandler III, Former Chancellor, Delaware Court of Chancery; Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
- Jean-Marc Levy, SVP & Head of Global Issuer Services, NYSE
- Veta T. Richardson, President & CEO, Association of Corporate Counsel
- Brian A. Rice, Portfolio Manager, Corporate Governance, California State Teachers' Retirement System
- Mary Schapiro, 29th Chairperson of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
- F. Daniel Siciliano, Professor & Faculty Director, Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Center for Corporate Governance, Associate Dean for Executive Education and Special Programs, Stanford Law School
Award winners and finalists were honored at the Inaugural Leadership Awards on Thursday, June 19, 2014 at the New York Stock Exchange, featuring Master of Ceremonies Lauren Simonetti of Fox Business. The event was sponsored by AST Phoenix Advisors, Computershare | Georgeson, Diligent, Norton Rose Fulbright, PwC, RR Donnelly, RSA, Semler Brossy, and Spencer Stuart.