Recognizing Innovative GRC Programs Reshaping the Future of Workplace Cultures
PORTLAND, Ore.—September 12, 2023 – NAVEX , the leader in integrated risk and compliance management software, today announced the winners of its third annual Customer Excellence Awards. The recipients represent some of the most innovative, impactful and successful risk and compliance programs in practice today. Award winners were selected by a committee of risk and compliance industry experts who evaluated more than sixty nominations across several award categories.
Amidst the ever-evolving nature of today’s corporate challenges, the importance of having a robust risk and compliance program has become a strategic necessity. At the same time, the compliance professional’s role has risen to that of indispensable strategic partner. NAVEX’s Customer Excellence Awards acknowledge and affirm those who have harnessed innovation and charted pathways to success through their commitment to program excellence.
Selection of this year’s award recipients rested with a stellar panel of judges that included Matt Kelly, CEO of Radical Compliance, LLC. “One point that struck me again and again when reviewing submissions was the pressing nature of the business problems today’s compliance professionals must solve,” said Kelly. “Issues faced range from law enforcement investigations to international regulations to corporate culture weaknesses. The winners here demonstrated an ability to surmount these challenges and do so at scale.”
It is clear that modern risk and compliance professionals have emerged as architects of proactive strategies to ensure the organization’s ethical integrity, operational resilience, and enduring success.
“These award-winning organizations stand out because they demonstrate how a next-level risk and compliance program contributes to organizational resilience and a stronger workplace culture,” explains Steve Chapman, Chief Customer Officer at NAVEX. “It is a privilege to recognize the innovation and creativity our customers apply to their programs.”
NAVEX’s Customer Excellence Awards span several categories across organizational sizes, industries and countries. This year’s winners are as follows:
Excellence in Ethics and Compliance Award
The Excellence in Ethics and Compliance category recognizes companies that demonstrate a commitment to building and maintaining an ethical workplace exhibited through a culture of compliance. The winners are:
CannonDesign – SMB (North America)
CannonDesign prides itself on its Ethics and Compliance program that is the first known autonomous and independently staffed compliance department in the Architecture & Engineering industry. Its program demonstrates sustained improvement across all metrics and communicates the importance of these programs with peer firms.
MODE Global, LLC – SMB (North America)
MODE Global’s compliance program conducts an enterprise risk assessment and creates compliance scorecards based on the 11 hallmarks of an effective compliance program. The program demonstrates a commitment to maintaining a culture of compliance, protecting stakeholders’ interests, and aligning with their brand and values.
JELD-WEN, Inc. – Enterprise (North America)
As a leading global manufacturer and distributor of windows, doors and building products, JELD-WEN has integrated compliance into every aspect of its business by living its corporate values: build businesses ethically, invest in people, deliver on promises, and improve every day. This day-to-day dedication to integrity and continuous improvement enabled JELD-WEN to be selected for the 2023 NAVEX Customer Excellence Award for Excellence in Ethics & Compliance.
PepsiCo, Inc. – Enterprise (North America)
PepsiCo’s Compliance and Ethics Program is well-designed and well-implemented considering both prevailing legal standards and organizational risks. PepsiCo has created and maintains a strong ethical culture. Foundational to PepsiCo’s success is a commitment to “doing business the right way” and a strong, embedded Compliance & Ethics (C&E) program that is structured by good governance principles.
Pilot Company – Enterprise (North America)
Pilot Company’s Ethics & Compliance Program has evolved over the last decade to be a program never content to just check the boxes of corporate compliance under the DOJ guidelines. The program uses NAVEX tools and every resource at its disposal to foster a culture of compliance in both words and actions that cascade throughout the organization.
Stellantis N.V. – Enterprise (International)
Stellantis N.V.’s program is constantly evolving to meet the ever-changing compliance requirements of a global corporation in an industry that is undergoing significant transformation, while incorporating enhancements to the existing program such as the introduction of an anti-retaliation survey or evaluating the possibility of leveraging enhanced generative AI tools.
The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents – Education
The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents embarked on a journey to enhance their existing anonymous hotline for their campus communities to report wrongdoing, and over time improved the reporting platform, processes, and cultures that enabled their universities to identify unethical practices, reduce liabilities and reputational risk, and better serve their students, faculty, staff, and campus communities.
Axis Health System – Nonprofit
Axis’s Ethics and Compliance program is founded on principles from the Federal Sentencing Guidelines’ Seven Elements of an Effective Compliance Program. Their program’s motto “there are no mistakes, only lessons” emphasizes a growth mindset, promoting continuous improvement and evolution of the program. The benefits are evident in the positive impact on response and risk mitigation.
Excellence in Integrated Risk Management Award
Recognizing organizations that elevate risk management to grow business resilience and responsiveness by using risk-signal data to inform business decisions, the Excellence in Integrated Risk Management category winners are:
ABM Industries – Enterprise
The 2023 implementation of NAVEX IRM aided the maturity and repeatability of ABM’s Risk & Compliance program by clearly defining it. The team has partnered with NAVEX in the deployment of IT risk management, third-party risk, and exception management. The platform has given them an auditable system allowing them to build SLAs around processes and responses. Requestors now have visibility as to where their request is in the process flow.
Radian Group Inc. – Enterprise
Recognized as one of Forbes Magazine’s 200 Best Cybersecurity Programs in the United States, Radian leverages best-in-class information security practices to defend against cybersecurity threats and reduce cyber risk. At the core of their program is an integrated risk management program, which includes managing internal, external, and third-party risks, mature processes, and industry leading CRQ scores.
Excellence in Governance, Risk and Compliance Program of the Year Award
The Governance, Risk and Compliance Program of the Year award recognizes organizations that successfully remove data and operational silos to align ethics, compliance, IRM and other GRC initiatives. The winners are:
State of Michigan – North America
The State of Michigan’s integrated risk management program delivers secure software solutions and infrastructure by ensuring all information systems undergo a rigorous security accreditation process, seamlessly integrating with other critical business processes. As a true cross-functional solution, the program connects the security and technological solutions put in place by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget with the needs of other state agencies as the departments work together to serve the state’s 10 million residents.
Diageo plc – International
Diageo’s Business Integrity agenda is embedded in every part of their business. Everyone has a role to play in enhancing the culture and reputation by consistently living their values and applying the principles of Diageo’s program in everyday activities. Diageo knows that performance can only be sustained if everyone is doing the right thing, every day, everywhere. At the heart of Diageo’s robust business integrity program is their Code of Business Conduct, which supports their employees in making the right choices and demonstrating the highest standards of ethical behavior.
This year’s panel of judges included: Vera Cherepanova, ethics advocate, consultant and author; Stephen Chapman, NAVEX Chief Customer Officer; Florian Haarhaus, NAVEX International General Manager; Matt Kelly, CEO of Radical Compliance LLC; Carrie Penman, NAVEX Chief Risk and Compliance Officer; Michael Volkov, CEO of Volkov Law; Prof. Kyle Welch, George Washington University and Carol Williams, CEO of Strategic Decisions Solutions.
To learn more about the awards and this year’s winners, visit the NAVEX Customer Excellence Awards page.
About NAVEX
NAVEX is trusted by thousands of customers worldwide to help them achieve the business outcomes that matter most. As the global leader in integrated risk and compliance management software and services, we deliver our solutions through the NAVEX One platform, the industry’s most comprehensive governance, risk and compliance (GRC) information system.