Dr. Leslie Gaines-Ross Named to Ethisphere Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics

Monday, December 10, 2007 NEW YORK, December 10, 2007 - Dr. Leslie Gaines-Ross, one of the world’s foremost experts on corporate and CEO reputation and chief reputation strategist at global public relations firm Weber Shandwick, was named to Ethisphere Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics for 2007.

This elite list from Ethisphere Magazine, a global publication dedicated to illuminating the important correlation between ethics and profit, recognizes individuals for inspiring change in business ethics. A panelist of ethics experts from major universities submitted nominations and ranked individuals who influenced ethical behavior in global business.  Research was done in cooperation with analysts from the Ethisphere Institute.

 “It is a great honor to be named alongside individuals who help to advance the public discourse on business ethics,” said Gaines-Ross. “As the business landscape has rapidly changed, ethical leadership has risen to the top as one of the key drivers of admired reputation and performance. Our work at Weber Shandwick aims to keep this reputation-building factor top-of-mind in the global business community.”

Dr. Gaines-Ross’ work with top officers at Fortune 500 companies, as well as numerous speaking engagements before internal and external leadership groups, consistently emphasizes the CEO’s crucial role as the ultimate guardian of the company’s spoken and symbolic acts and decisions. Her influential research, thought leadership and insights into reputation, which are featured in www.reputationRx.com, www.reputationXchange.com and her two books CEO Capital and the highly anticipated Corporate Reputation: 12 Steps to Safeguarding and Recovering Reputation (John Wiley & Sons, January 2008), have spread the importance of ethical leadership and its inextricable link to reputation and corporate performance to all corners of the globe.

Gaines-Ross is the architect of Weber Shandwick’s Safeguarding Reputation™ with KRC Research that examines the full range of reputation issues. This landmark study revealed that over two-thirds of global

business executives identified unethical behavior as a leading trigger of reputation failure (68 percent), placing second only to financial irregularities (72 percent).

Weber Shandwick President Andy Polansky said, “We are thrilled to see Gaines-Ross’ leadership in this critical area recognized by such a prestigious organization. We are proud of the work she does for Weber Shandwick, the industry and our clients.” About Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a leading global public relations agency with offices in over 79 markets around the world. The firm’s reputation is built on its deep commitment to client service, creativity, collaboration and harnessing the power of Advocates - engaging stakeholders in new and creative ways to build brands and reputation. Weber Shandwick provides strategy and execution across world-class practices such as consumer marketing, healthcare, technology, public affairs, corporate/financial and crisis management. Its specialized services include digital/social media, advertising, market research, and corporate responsibility. Weber Shandwick received the highest client-satisfaction honors in the 2007 Agency Excellence Survey by PRWeek U.S. and in 2006, was named Large PR Firm of the Year (PR News U.S.), European Consultancy of the Year (The Holmes Report) and Network of the Year (Asia Pacific PR Awards). The firm also won the United Nations Grand Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Relations for the past three years. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com/.