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Making Your Business One of the Most Ethical Companies in the World

October 2011
EthicsConsultant

Abstract

On March 15, 2011, Hitachi Data Systems (HDS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. in Japan, was recognized by the Ethisphere Institute (www.ethisphere.com) as one of the “2011 World’s Most Ethical Companies.” This award was given to HDS after Ethisphere had spent approximately six months auditing the HDS compliance program and conducting interviews with HDS employees all over the world. In 2005, the HDS compliance program consisted of certain policies (e.g., Competition, Anti-Bribery, Code of Conduct, etc.), a reporting hotline and some in-house training. However, after the development of a concerted initiative of policy and program development, training, strengthened internal controls, compliance tools and internal audits, HDS has been publicly acknowledged as one of the most ethical companies in the world. What practical steps can the reader take to enhance his or her company’s compliance program and build a strong ethical culture in their company? HDS is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and provides best-in-class information and storage technologies, services and solutions to its customers in both the government and private sectors. The company does business directly (through subsidiaries) or indirectly (through networks of distributors, resellers and system integrators) in approximately 160 countries, including many emerging markets identified as high-risk (corruption perception) countries on the Transparency International Corruption Index. (http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010).

Author

Portrait image of Greg Coplans
Greg Coplans
Executive Vice President, Emeritus, Hitachi Data Systems Corporation, USA

As executive vice president Corporate Affairs, Greg Coplans, has executive oversight for the general management of the Hitachi Data Systems Corporate Social Responsibility program. Coplans also leads the legal, global trade, compliance, security and business conduct and ethics functions of the company with the vice president and General Counsel, and the Directors of business conduct and ethics and global trade compliance reporting to him. He also serves as Secretary to the Hitachi Data Systems Board of Directors. Coplans joined Hitachi Data Systems in 1992 as Group Counsel, Asia Pacific Latin America and served in a number of positions in the Legal Department, including General Counsel, before assuming his current role in April 2006. Coplans earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Cape Town in South Africa and a Bachelor of Laws degree from King's College, University of London. Prior to moving to California, Coplans practiced with a London law firm as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. He is a member of the State Bar of California. Coplans is now retired and has an "Executive Vice President, Emeritus status with HDS. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Hitachi Data Systems (Africa) Pty Ltd and as a member of the board of Cumulus Systems, Inc.

Company

Hitachi Data Systems Corporation

Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) provides best-in-class information technologies, services and solutions that deliver compelling customer ROI, unmatched return on assets (ROA) and demonstrable business impact. With a vision that IT must be virtualized, automated, cloud-ready and sustainable, HDS offers solutions that improve IT costs and agility. HDS believes that data drives our world – and information is the new currency. HDS has more than 4,900 employees worldwide and does business in more than 100 countries and regions. HDS is trusted by the world’s leading enterprises, including more than 70% of the Fortune 100 and more than 80% of the Fortune Global 100. HDS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. HDS gas been recognized as One of the Most Ethical Companies in the World by the Ethisphere Institute for the years 2010-14.

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