Month of June , 2008

Survey enables clients to benchmark against peers’ programs

IBM is approaching clients with a benchmarking survey that enables them to gauge how their Corporate Responsibility efforts measure up against more than 250 companies worldwide.

IBM’s Corporate Social Responsibility Benchmarking Utility enables companies to see where their firms surpass or fall short of their peers in areas including labor relations, compliance, corporate ethics and other arenas in CR.

U.N. office also lists 317 more participants at risk of removal from the initiative

The United Nations Global Compact Office removed 630 companies from its list for failure to communicate progress on the 10 principles of the initiative, the office said. Under the Integrity Measures introduced in 2004, companies must report advancements annually to stakeholders.

CECP report makes case for alignment of goals 

One philanthropy trend parallels developments in the Corporate Responsibility (CR) arena as a whole: As in CR, many corporations are aligning their philanthropy with business objectives.

  The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) identified the synergy between philanthropy and business goals in a new report, “Business’s Social Contract: Capturing the Corporate Philanthropy Opportunity,” which was based in part on research conducted by McKinsey & Co.

Exclusive deal puts Governance Exchange into BoardVantage platform

RiskMetrics Group and board portal-provider BoardVantage signed an exclusive agreement that embeds a RiskMetrics governance application into BoardVantage’s portal offering.

RiskMetrics’ Governance Exchange is a platform that enables corporate boards and management from member companies to conduct online forums, share best practices and receive updates on governance trends through white papers, webinars, surveys and other analysis.

Benioff breaks down the foundation’s unique giving structure in San Francisco keynote address

Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff realized some corporate priorities were out of order when a Washington, D.C., school needed a Marine battalion, summoned by America’s Promise Alliance Founding Chair Colin Powell, to transport some computers several years ago. Before Powell was brought in, Benioff, then an Oracle executive, and another Oracle volunteer, tried to help the school, but the two weren’t up to the scale of the task. Thus, Benioff vowed at the time: “When I start a company, I’m going to integrate strategic corporate philanthropy in the business.”

New index tracks alternative energy, water, waste-management businesses

Institutional and retail investors tracking the performance of the global environmental technologies market can access a new tool to benchmark that sector.

FTSE Group introduced its Environmental Opportunities All-Share Index, which includes 450 companies involved in alternative energy, water and waste-management businesses.

Timberland alters timetable, uses social networking site to reach stakeholders

Timberland’s corporate responsibility reporting just took a Web 2.0 twist.

The Stratham, N.H., footwear and apparel company overhauled its CR reporting frequency and process, utilizing a social networking/community website, JustMeans.com, to publicize its efforts and engage stakeholders in interactive ways.

In Corporate Responsibility briefing, tech firm also says it focuses on energy efficiency

IBM considers the “say on pay” trend “very interesting,” but feels “very comfortable” with its current performance-based system, an official said. However, speaking at an IBM briefing for analysts about its Corporate Responsibility (CR) efforts June 13, Rich Calo, the company’s Vice President, Human Resources, said IBM still supports its decades-long practice of executive compensation based on performance.

 Pitt, Breeden spar in public discussion of corporate governance

Two former SEC chairmen participating in a commission roundtable discussion differed sharply over proxy access and the role of corporate boards.  They expressed conflicting views about whether it's entrenched directors or shareholder activists who represent a tyranny of sorts.

Marc Benioff to deliver keynote and accept top honor 

EDISON, N.J. -- Marc Benioff, Chairman and CEO of salesforce.com, one of America's fastest-growing technology companis, and visionary behind the "1/1/1 Model" in which companies give 1% of profits, 1% of equity and 1% of employee time back to its communities, has won CRO Magazine's 2008 CEO of the Year (Middle Market) Award, and will accept the Award at the CRO Conference June 18 at the Marine's Memorial Club in San Francisco.