Which companies are best when it comes to leadership? On 12 January 2009, organisations around the world will be able to participate in the Top Companies for Leaders study, sponsored by Hewitt Associates, a global consulting and outsourcing company, in partnership with The RBL Group, a firm dedicated to helping clients deliver strong leadership and strategic HR capability, and Fortune Magazine.

Francis Stickland, European Practice Leader Leadership Consulting said:

"Leadership talent is in short supply around the world, yet a handful of companies are able to consistently groom and grow great leaders through the ranks, even in the most demanding talent markets and in the most volatile economic and financial climates."

"This study will provide valuable insights on how companies excel at building leaders and enhance their leadership brand to drive business success. We look forward to partnering again with The RBL Group and Fortune Magazine to uncover the best practices of companies that successfully grow and produce great leaders in an increasingly complex and global marketplace."

The most comprehensive global leadership study in the marketplace, the research will examine how organisations choose and develop leaders, and determine if there is a correlation between leadership practices and business results. The Top Companies for Leaders study will rank top companies from Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America with innovative leadership programmes. Companies included in the global and regional lists will be announced in the November 2009 issue of Fortune. Hewitt has conducted Top Companies leadership studies in the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific since 2002. This is the second year it has partnered with The RBL Group and Fortune Magazine.

Dave Ulrich, co-founder of The RBL Group, said:

"In up and down markets, organisations with a strong leadership brand deliver value to employees, customers and investors. We are excited to learn through this study how to make leadership brand a practical reality. Top companies for leaders invest in leadership development that turns customer expectations into employee actions."

Participation Requirements

All organisations — public or private — can participate in the Top Companies for Leaders study. Participation in the study is free, and companies will receive an exclusive research brief available only to the 2009 participants. The first part of the selection process is simply completing the survey. For more information on participating, please email topcompaniesforleaders2009@hewitt.com.

About Hewitt Associates

For more than 65 years, Hewitt Associates (NYSE: HEW) has provided clients with best-in-class human resources consulting and outsourcing services. Hewitt consults with more than 3,000 large and mid-size companies around the globe to develop and implement HR business strategies covering retirement, financial and health management; compensation and total rewards; and performance, talent and change management. As a market leader in benefits administration, Hewitt delivers health care and retirement programmes to millions of participants and pensioners, on behalf of more than 300 organisations worldwide. In addition, more than 30 clients rely on Hewitt to provide a broader range of human resources business process outsourcing services to nearly a million client employees. Located in 33 countries, Hewitt employs approximately 23,000 associates. For more information, please visit www.hewitt.com.

About The RBL Group

Founded by widely recognized HR and leadership experts Dave Ulrich and Norm Smallwood, The RBL Group is a global professional services firm committed to creating value through the effective management of people and organizations. RBL works with clients to implement cutting edge leadership practices and to advance the transformation of strategic human resource management. Their clients include top companies throughout the world and across a wide range of industries. The RBL Group is recognized as the trusted advisor to the world's top HR leaders and their senior executives. To learn more please visit www.rbl.net.

Other Contacts

Anna Mitchell, Capital MS&L, on 020 7307 5346
Supriya Mathur, Capital MS&L, on 020 7307 5347