CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REVIEW
Doing business the right way
As we drive the business forward, maintaining our fundamental commitment to corporate responsibility (CR) remains a top priority. We continuously work to ensure that our high level values are translated into consistent actions and behaviours worldwide that are aligned with, and support the achievement of our strategic business objectives.
In 2007, we further strengthened our CR leadership and governance to make sure that we have appropriate systems in place for identifying the risks and opportunities associated with our CR, together with effective frameworks for managing them and driving compliance with all relevant policies and standards. As part of this, we reviewed and expanded our Code of Conduct to provide clear direction and guidance for all our staff on what is required of them. The new Code is being translated into over 40 languages and will be distributed to all our employees in early 2008. In addition, since the acquisition in June, we are working closely with MedImmune, which has its own long-standing commitment to working responsibly, to make sure that our policies and standards are aligned.
CR targets and measures are included in our business performance management framework and related objectives are being included in personal targets at all levels to support the integration of CR management across the full range of our business activities.
You can read about key aspects of our commitment to doing business the right way, and our performance, throughout this report and further details are provided on our website, astrazeneca.com/responsibility. We are making progress, but in the ever-changing world in which we live, there will always be work to do to ensure that AstraZeneca is not only valued as a source of great medicines, but also trusted for the way in which we do business worldwide.
