NAFE Names Lilly to Top 50 Companies for Executive Women

Lilly celebrates third consecutive year on Top 50 list

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Mar 15, 2011, 09:19 ET

INDIANAPOLIS, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) has been named to the 2011 NAFE Top 50 Companies for Executive Women by the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE). The list recognizes organizations whose policies and practices encourage women's advancement and whose numbers at the highest levels of leadership demonstrate that commitment. Lilly received the award first in 2009, and again in 2010.

"It truly is an honor to win this award for the third consecutive year," said Shaun Hawkins, chief diversity officer. "At Lilly, we're confident that the acceleration of our commitment to efforts, such as the professional growth and development of executive women, ultimately will lead to better business results and innovative therapies to improve patient outcomes."

The 2011 NAFE Top Companies application includes 225 questions on such topics as female representation, hiring, attrition and promotion rates; access and usage of key retention and advancement programs such as mentoring, executive coaching, networking and sponsorship; company culture; and manager training and accountability. To be considered for the NAFE Top Companies for Executive Women, companies must have a minimum of two women on their board of directors as well as at least 500 employees in the U.S.

"Women have long struggled to reach the highest ranks in a male-dominated business environment, but with the growing profitability of companies with women in the top ranks, that is changing," said Dr. Betty Spence, NAFE president. "Today, employers reward the skills that women bring and demand them of men, as well."

NAFE will honor each of the top companies at a gala luncheon in New York City on March 30. A report will be published in NAFE magazine and also is available online on NAFE's website.

Additional diversity awards received by Lilly in 2010 and 2011 include:

DiversityInc's 2011 "Top 50 Companies for Diversity"
Careers & the disABLED magazine's 2010 "Top 50 Employers"
Working Mother magazine's 2010 "Top 100 Best Places to Work"

For a full list of Lilly diversity awards and recognitions, visit http://lilly.com/about/diversity/recognition/.

About NAFE

The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), founded in 1972, serves 20,000 members nationwide with networking, tools and solutions to strengthen and grow their careers and businesses. NAFE magazine publishes the annual Top Companies issue and the annual Women of Excellence issue. NAFE.com provides up-to-date information, community for women in business and access to member benefits. NAFE is a division of Working Mother Media and Bonnier Corporation.

About Eli Lilly and Company:

Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information - for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com. C-LLY

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SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company