Lilly Recognized as a Top Company for Executive Women

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) has earned a place on the NAFE "Top Companies for Executive Women" list for the fourth consecutive year.

The 2012 list, compiled by the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), recognizes U.S. companies whose policies and practices encourage women's advancement and whose numbers, at the highest levels of leadership, demonstrate that commitment.

The NAFE Top Companies survey evaluates companies on every aspect of women's advancement, including succession planning, profit-and-loss roles, gender pay parity, support programs and work-life balance.

"We are honored to receive this recognition for the fourth year in a row," said Shaun Hawkins, chief diversity officer. "At Lilly, we value and understand the importance of diversity among our employees, and we are confident that efforts, such as the professional growth and development of executive women, will lead to better business results and innovative approaches to improving outcomes for patients."

In honor of its 40th anniversary, NAFE will publish the results of the NAFE Top Companies for Executive Women initiative in the February/March 2012 issue of Working Mother magazine. NAFE also will honor each of the top companies at a gala luncheon in New York City March 30.

This is the second diversity award Lilly has received for 2012. Lilly achieved a 100 percent score on the Human Rights Campaign 2012 Corporate Equality Index and was named to that organization's "Best Places to Work" list.

About NAFE

The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), founded in 1972, serves 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