Leading International Think Tank Names eBay Inc. One of the World’s Most Ethical Companies

eBay Inc. Staff

The Ethisphere Institute has honored eBay Inc. — the only ecommerce company on its list — two years in a row.

For the second year running, eBay Inc. has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical (WME) Companies by The Ethisphere Institute, a leading business ethics think tank. eBay Inc. is the only ecommerce company to make Ethisphere’s list of 145 honorees this year. Ethisphere’s results are based on an extensive review of companies’ social responsibility efforts, corporate governance and business practices.

“The work we do every day touches millions of people around the world,” said John Donahoe, President and CEO of eBay Inc. “And how we do our work is as important as what we do. This is why our inclusion in Ethisphere's list of the World's Most Ethical Companies is so important to me and our company.  Every day, we promise our employees and our customers that we will conduct ourselves and our business with the highest level of integrity, and this honor recognizes that commitment."

“Each year the competition for World’s Most Ethical Companies intensifies as the number of nominations submitted for consideration grows,” said Alex Brigham, Executive Director of Ethisphere, in announcing this year’s awards. “This year’s winners know that a strong ethics program is a key component to a successful business model, and they continue to scrutinize their ethical standards to keep up with an ever-changing regulatory environment. Corporate ethics has become much more important globally, as well, and that is reflected in the truly global nature of this year’s honorees.”

According to Ethisphere, the methodology for the WME ranking includes reviewing codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; evaluating investments in innovation and sustainable business practices; looking at activities designed to improve corporate citizenship; and studying nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers.

Ethisphere will honor this year’s winning companies during an Honoree Dinner at New York’s Grand Hyatt Hotel tonight, with former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright serving as the program’s keynote speaker. Ethisphere magazine also featured The World’s Most Ethical Companies list is their Q1 2012 issue.

Click here or visit www.ethisphere.com/wme to view the complete list of the 2012 World’s Most Ethical Companies and to read about the methodology behind the awards program.