RBC, KeyCorp Chair & CEO Beth Mooney, Abbott, and Sodexo Group Tapped as 2014 WomenCorporateDirectors Visionary Awards Winners

NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Honoring companies and CEOs who are advancing better corporate governance across the globe, WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD) is recognizing for its 2014 Visionary Awards the French food services and facilities management corporation Sodexo; global healthcare giant Abbott; top financial institution RBC; and Beth Mooney, chair and CEO of KeyCorp bank and considered one of the most powerful women in banking.

With its Visionary Awards – which have tapped Procter & Gamble; Publicis; Intel; Coca-Cola; and CEOs Ellen Cullman, Marjorie Scardino, and Irene Rosenfeld, among others, in previous years – WCD is identifying "extraordinary leaders who contribute far beyond their balance sheets," said Visionary Awards Co-Chair Christie Hefner. "The awardees are creating a model for the rest of the world and are re-defining what a company and a CEO can do."

WCD will present the 2014 Visionary Awards at its Visionary Awards Dinner on May 14, 2014, as part of its annual WCD Global Institute (May 13-15) in New York City. As the top global organization for women on boards – rapidly expanding with 60 chapters to date worldwide – WCD has more than 2,500 members serving on more than 3,500+ boards. The group's influence has grown exponentially in recent years, with the aggregate market capitalization of public companies on whose boards WCD members serve close to $8 trillion. WCD designates winners who embody WCD's mission to champion better board governance practices and lead through visionary action.

"We want to recognize those who have long moved past business-as-usual and are truly re-defining the role of corporate citizenship in their communities globally," said fellow Awards Co-Chair Sherry Barrat.

Awards will be accepted by:

• Gordon Nixon, President and CEO, RBC, winner of the Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company
• Beth Mooney, Chair and CEO of KeyCorp, winner of the Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership
• Miles D. White, CEO and Chairman of Abbott, winner of the Visionary Award for Innovation in Shared Value
• Michel Landel, CEO, President, and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Sodexo Group, winner of the Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Private Company

"I'm honored to receive this award on behalf of RBC and its employees. Together, we've made tremendous progress in diversity and inclusion over the years. There is always more to be done, and this award will inspire us to reach higher goals," said RBC President and CEO Nixon. "I have always believed that our people are our most important asset, and talent and leaders come in both genders and in all races and ethnicities. Global companies like ours cannot succeed in an increasingly competitive economy without the full and active participation and leadership of women and minorities."   

Award winner Beth Mooney of KeyCorp remarked: "One of the enduring strengths of our company is the quality and diversity of our board of directors, our leadership team, and our employees. It drives disciplined execution on behalf of the clients and the communities we serve. While the entire financial services industry is undergoing a sea change, I'm proud that Key is being recognized as a leader in corporate governance by doing the right things the right way."

The winner of the award for "innovation in shared value," Abbott is being recognized for its leadership specifically in the area of corporate social responsibility. Its Chairman and CEO Miles White said of Abbott's being named a 2014 winner: "We're honored to be recognized by WomenCorporateDirectors. The connection between business and society has always been at the core of our mission at Abbott – we succeed by finding new ways to help people live better, healthier lives."   

"It is an honor to be recognized by such a prestigious organization, and it is a testament to Sodexo's commitment to gender diversity," says Sodexo's Michel Landel. "Since its foundation almost 50 years ago, Sodexo has been guided by a vision: we believe that to create lasting value, organizations and society must place people at the center of their thinking. We are convinced that the women and men in a company must be the real beneficiaries of its success. This belief has become the cornerstone of our gender balance strategy. By tapping into the full potential of both genders, we are stronger, more innovative, and better at what we do."

As the setting for the Visionary Awards presentation each year, WCD's invitation-only Global Institute has become one of the most sought-after events for women corporate directors globally, attracting 300 board members, many of whom are also CEOs, from countries around the world.

"The Global Institute taps some of the best thinking from around the world," said Susan Stautberg, CEO, Co-Founder, and Co-Chair of WCD. "Our new ideas and dissatisfaction with the status quo are what enable us to spur change in governance and how boards can effectively operate today."

2014 WCD Visionary Awards Selection Committee
Committee Co-Chairs

• Christie Hefner, Executive Chairman, Canyon Ranch Enterprises; Director, Luminary Digital Media, LLC, Center for American Progress Action Fund
• Sherry Barrat, Retired Vice Chairman, Northern Trust; Corporate Director, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., NextEra Energy, Inc., Prudential Insurance Funds

Committee Members

• Yolanda Auza, General Manager UNISYS Latinoamerica Central South Andean, Director Unisys de Venezuela, CEA, CEJ
• Marina Brogi, Chairman Fratelli Branca Distillerie S.r.l.
• Marty Evans, Rear Admiral, US Navy (Ret.), Director of Weight Watchers International, Inc., The North Highland Company
• Michele Hooper, President and CEO, The Directors' Council; Director, PPG Industries, UnitedHealth Group, National Association of Corporate Directors
• Honorable Senator Kathryn (Kay) Bailey Hutchison, Director, Cobalt International Energy, Inc.
• Jill Kanin-Lovers, Director, Dot Foods; Director, Heidrick & Struggles; Director, Homeownership Preservation Foundation
• Estelle Metayer, President, Competia; Director, Ubisoft Entertainment SA
• Kalpana Raina, Managing Partner, 252 Solutions LLC; Director, RealNetworks, Inc., John Wiley & Sons, Information Services Group, The World Policy Institute
• Susan Stautberg, Co-Founder, Co-Chair, and CEO of WomenCorporateDirectors and President of PartnerCom Corporation

For more information about the 2014 WCD Visionary Awards, please contact Davia Temin or Suzanne Oaks of Temin and Company at 212-588-8788 or [email protected]. 

About WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD)
WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD) is the only global membership organization and community of women corporate directors, comprised of more than 2,500 members serving on over 3,500 boards in 60 chapters around the world, with many more slated in the next two quarters. The aggregate market capitalization of public companies on whose boards WCD members serve is $8 trillion – if WCD were a country, its economy would be the world's third largest, behind only the U.S. and China. In addition, WCD members serve on numerous boards of large private companies globally.

WCD membership provides a unique platform for learning from the intellectual capital of accomplished women from around the world, and WCD's mission is to increase courage, candor, inclusion, and cohesion in the boardroom. In 2012, WCD launched the Global Nominating Commission, a high-level task force of select corporate board nominating committee chairs and members from around the world, as well as CEOs, focused on proactively building diverse boards and candidate slates. KPMG is a Global Partner of WCD. Spencer Stuart is a Premier Partner, and WCD Strategic Partners include Marriott International and Pearl Meyer & Partners; WCD Alliance Partners include International Finance Corporation (IFC), JPMorgan Chase, and Northern Trust.

WCD has 60 global chapters, located in Arizona, Atlanta, Beijing, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Chile, Cleveland, Colombia, Columbus, Dallas/Fort Worth, Delhi, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gulf Cooperation Council, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Houston, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kansas City, London, Los Angeles/Orange County, Malaysia, Melbourne, Mexico, Milan, Minnesota, Morocco, Mumbai, Netherlands, New York, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern California, Panama, Peru, Philadelphia, Philippines, Quebec, Rome, San Diego, Sao Paulo, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore, South Africa, South Florida, Switzerland, Sydney, Tennessee, Toronto, Turkey, Washington, D.C, and Western Canada. Upcoming chapters include Denver, New Mexico, North Florida/Southern Georgia, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and Thailand. For more information, visit www.womencorporatedirectors.com.

SOURCE WomenCorporateDirectors