Leonardo: first in Transparency International's Defense Company Index 2020 for transparency and anti-corruption
Leonardo climbs the ranking and reaches the highest level of the Defense Companies Index on Anti-Corruption and Corporate Transparency (DCI) elaborated by Transparency International. After an accurate process of analysis of the main companies in the Defense & Security sector worldwide that lasted about two years, the non-governmental organization recognized and rewarded the measures implemented by Leonardo with the adoption of more stringent anti-corruption policies and the significant increase in the level of transparency. Thanks to these actions, Leonardo has climbed the ranking compared to the last survey in 2015, with a decidedly high and further strengthened score that places it in "Band A", the highest on the evaluation scale. The assessment is based exclusively on the analysis of information accessible to all stakeholders, and analyzed 134 companies in the sector from 38 countries around the world.
Through a long and constant commitment undertaken over the last few years, Leonardo has adopted a new code of ethics, has strengthened the responsibilities and internal controls regarding Internal Audit, Offset and Trade Compliance, and has launched a new code for managing relationships with suppliers, issued new and increasingly stringent guidelines for commercial promoters and consultants, obtained, unique in the sector, the ISO 37001: 2016 "Anti bribery management system" certification, promoted internal whistleblowing campaigns and adopted new risk assessment methods, with particular attention to anti-corruption profiles linked to responsible business management.
"Transparency, ethics and anti-corruption are the basis of Leonardo's governance and the recognition obtained by Trasparency International confirms the validity of the path undertaken for a long time, aimed at adopting a structured approach, aimed at constant improvement in the effectiveness of the tools adopted from the company ”, underlines Luciano Carta, President of Leonardo. "The strengthening of the activities carried out, from the periodic review of the ethical and anti-corruption code to the implementation of an internal organizational control model, has made it possible to achieve a governance and management system useful for preventing possible risks, promoting and developing, at the same time , an ethical business culture ".
"Reaching the top end of the index developed by Transparency International is the result of a constant work of an integrated and cohesive team that involved all the company functions in charge - says Alessandro Profumo, Leonardo's CEO - which allowed the achievement of a a particularly significant result and a source of pride for all Leonardo's people. The recognition demonstrates how compliance with the rules related to the fight against corruption in business conduct is central and a priority for carrying out our business in the best possible way in all the countries where we operate ".
The important certificate comes after the appointment of Leonardo as a Lead company, for its commitment to promoting the ten principles of the Global Compact relating to human rights, work, the environment, the fight against corruption and the support of initiatives in support of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoted by the United Nations.