HDFC sole Indian firm among world's most ethical companies

NEW YORK: India's HDFC is the only company which has managed to find a place in the world's most ethical companies' list this year.

According to the list prepared by the US-based think tank Ethisphere Institute, only one Indian firm HDFC has made a place among the 110 world's most ethical companies.

Of these companies, 36 are new to the list in 2011 and 26 companies dropped off from the last year's list.

Commenting on the achievement HDFC Vice-Chairman and CEO Keki Mistry said: "It obviously feels nice to be one of the world's most ethical company and the only one from India.

HDFC is one of the most trusted brands in the country and for a financial services company it is very important that people perceive it as ethical."

Among the companies that made a place in the list are -- online marketplace eBay, auto maker Ford Motor Company, banking giant Standard Chartered Bank, Accenture, Adobe Systems, software giant Microsoft and food and beverage firm PepsiCo.

Interestingly, the companies that have secured a berth on the list are from wide range of industries, right from banking to consumer goods to auto, retail and media.

As per the report, ethical company designation is awarded to those companies that have leading ethics and compliance programmes, particularly as compared to their industry peers.