Leonardo Tops Transparency International’s 2020 Defence Company Index for Integrity and Accountability
Leonardo has ascended the rankings and attained the pinnacle in Transparency International’s Defence Companies Index on Anti-Corruption and Corporate Transparency (DCI). Following a meticulous evaluation process lasting nearly two years, which scrutinizes the foremost firms in the Defence & Security domain globally, the impartial organization acknowledged the initiatives executed by Leonardo, emphasizing the adoption of more robust anti-corruption protocols and a remarkable enhancement in its transparency levels. As a consequence of the measures undertaken, Leonardo has advanced in the index compared with the earlier assessment in 2015. This elevated score positions the corporation in “Band A,” the highest tier in the assessment scale. The evaluation is predicated exclusively on the examination of information available to all stakeholders, assessing 134 entities across the industry from 38 nations.
Through a prolonged and ongoing commitment pursued over recent years, Leonardo has implemented a new ethical code and has fortified the responsibilities and internal controls within Internal Audit, Offset, and Trade Compliance. The Company has also introduced a fresh code for managing supplier relationships, issued even more stringent guidelines for commercial representatives and consultants, and achieved, uniquely in the sector, the ISO 37001: 2016 “Anti-bribery management system” certification. Moreover, it has initiated internal whistleblowing initiatives and embraced new risk evaluation methodologies with particular emphasis on anti-corruption profiles concerning the management responsibility of the business.
“Transparency, ethics, and anti-corruption are the foundation of Leonardo’s governance, and this acknowledgment by Transparency International validates the effectiveness of the path undertaken by the firm over time. A journey aimed at implementing a structured approach and striving for continual enhancement in the efficacy of the tools utilized by the organization,” emphasizes Luciano Carta, Chairman of Leonardo. “The bolstering of the activities carried out, from the routine review of the ethics and anti-corruption code to the establishment of an internal control organizational framework, has enabled us to achieve a governance and management system that successfully prevents potential risks while fostering and nurturing an ethical business culture.”
“Achieving the utmost level of the index formulated by Transparency International is attributable to the relentless efforts of an integrated and unified team, encompassing all the essential corporate functions,” states Alessandro Profumo, CEO of Leonardo. “This effort produced a notably significant outcome that represents a source of pride for all employees. This accomplishment illustrates how adherence to regulations concerning the fight against corruption in commercial practices is central and vital for executing our business optimally in every nation where we operate.”
This noteworthy achievement follows the designation of Leonardo as a foremost enterprise in its dedication to endorsing the ten principles of the Global Compact pertaining to human rights, employment, environmental sustainability, anti-corruption efforts, and supportive initiatives for
