Supreme Group's Robust Ethics Program Showcased During Distinguished Panel Discussion on 'Ethics of Internal Investigations'
Reston, Virginia (PRWEB) May 06, 2014 -- Emma Sharma, Supreme Group’s Ethics and Compliance Officer, highlighted the benefits of having an in-house forensics team, as well as the importance of ethics in internal investigations during a prestigious industry event organized in April by the American Bar Association in California, United States. Emma was one of only two in-house legal counsel invited to join the distinguished panel. The ABA’s Spring Conference was attended by both local and international lawyers, and the panel was one of many presentations and workshops offered to attendees.
“We consider our reputation to be one of our most important assets, so we have made a substantial commitment to foster an ethical business environment on behalf of our employees and customers. We specialize in operating in very challenging locations amidst difficult conditions, many of which have been identified by Transparency International as the most perceived corrupt places in which to operate. This in itself means that the role of ethics is very important, but it also means that implementing a robust ethics culture and system is not always an easy process,” Sharma commented.
“Supreme’s strategy around ethics and compliance is therefore at the very heart of all that we do, every day. To ensure this is upheld, we have a substantial internal investigations team, some of whom are located in our head office and in our key operational locations. They can deploy wherever required around the world and operate in accordance with global best practices. There are many benefits of having an in-house forensics team as opposed to working with agencies. It is much more cost effective, the team can cover a broader scope of work, and we can hire a team of people with significant expertise in investigations, which is not always the case of law firms,” she added.
During the panel discussion, issues surrounding the ethics of internal investigations were discussed, such as legal considerations, ways to ensure interviews are fair and respectful, as well as the importance of having an investigations mechanism or team available to support the ethics agenda.
“What is wrong in one culture may not be considered wrong in another; it is not always black and white. To address this, we provide face to face ethics training to every one of our employees around the world, as well as additional training on anti-corruption, anti-bribery, conflicts of interest and other relevant topics. As a result, we have created a strong ethics culture in our workplace, which has created competitive advantages and has enabled us to better manage risks. We have also been able to improve customer retention, enhance our reputation and drive new business through better business development. This was one of the best panel discussions I have ever sat on, as it was a really interesting and engaged discussion about important issues that impact companies every day,” Sharma concluded.
Supreme Group has a robust Ethics and Compliance program, with the department operating as a separate and independent function that reports directly to the Group Compliance Committee. The Committee is comprised of senior leaders who meet monthly to review the program and activities. All employees must abide by Supreme’s comprehensive Code of Ethics and Business Conduct. More information about Supreme’s commitment to ethics is included in the company’s Communication on Progress submission to the United Nations Global Compact Initiative.
Supreme Group is a global leader in the provision of end to end supply chain solutions. Since 1957 Supreme has delivered logistics support in some of the world’s most remote and hostile locations: safely, reliably and efficiently. Supreme’s capabilities range from procurement, transportation and storage through to technology and full site services. The company’s legacy of proven and trusted performance spans more than fifty years; covering 30 nations across five continents. For more information, visit http://www.supreme-group.net.
About Supreme Group:
Founded in 1957, Supreme Group is a global leader in the provision of end-to-end supply chain solutions to defense, government, and commercial sector clients around the world. For more than fifty years, the company has provided critical, life-sustaining services that empower clients to accomplish missions in challenging and austere environments.
Supreme offers a unique breadth of capabilities – ranging from procurement, transportation and storage through to technology and full site services. Supreme has a long history of supporting international organizations and governments. Its current clients include the United Nations (UN), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and leading military forces including the US Department of Defense (DoD) and the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). Over the years, the company has also partnered with many commercial clients.
The Group’s excellent reputation is built on the key strengths of delivering where others cannot; implementing rapid response solutions; and creating fully integrated supply chain solutions.
As a socially responsible organization, Supreme Group strives to maintain the highest standards of ethics and integrity across its operations at all times. It is committed to respecting people and the environment; nurturing community development; implementing sustainable business practices; and giving back to the communities in which it operates.
More information on Supreme Group can be found by visiting http://www.supreme-group.net
For other information, please contact:
Carissa Crowley
External Communications Manager
Supreme Group
Business Mobile: +971 (0) 56 6819085 (UAE)
carissa(dot)crowley(at)supreme-group(dot)net
Victoria Frost
Director of Corporate Development, Marketing & Communications
Supreme Group
Business Mobile: +971 (0) 56 6832123 (UAE)
victoria(dot)frost(at)supreme-group(dot)net
Carissa Crowley, Supreme Foodservice FZE, http://www.supreme-group.net, +971 566819085, [email protected]
Share this article