(Photo: docstockmedia/Shutterstock) business ethics

60% of 'Most Ethical' Companies Have Chief Ethics or Compliance Officers

Douglas Allen, managing director of data and services at Ethisphere Institute, said nearly every company named has someone who acts as a chief ethics or compliance officer. However, the number of companies that have independent, C-suite level compliance and ethics officers has increased from previous years. That independent role has led to better corporate behavior from the top down.

February 25, 2020 at 09:42 AM

3 minute read

Dan Clark

Roughly 60% of the companies named on Tuesday as Ethisphere Institute's most ethical for 2020 have an independent chief compliance or ethics officer who reports directly to the CEO rather than the manager of another business function.

AT&T Inc., U.S. Bancorp and LinkedIn are among the 132 companies Ethisphere named to be the most ethical for 2020.

Douglas Allen, managing director of data and services at Scottsdale, Arizona-based Ethisphere, said nearly every company named has someone who acts as a chief ethics or compliance officer. However, the number of companies that have independent, C-suite level compliance and ethics officers has increased from previous years. That independent role has led to better corporate behavior from the top down.