US award for Niall FitzGerald

The award was made in recognition of his distinguished business career and corporate leadership both in the UK and internationally.

Winners must demonstrate a proven commitment to societal matters beyond the bottom line, encourage ties among different sectors of society and promote international cooperation and understanding.

The award was presented by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Washington-based Smithsonian Institution at a gala dinner in London on 21 May.

“I am honoured to receive the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship, though I feel I have been singled out for doing something that should be entirely expected and natural,” FitzGerald said. “Business is a part of the society it serves and should go beyond the interests of its own shareholders.”

FitzGerald joined Reuters as a non-executive director in 2003 and became chairman in 2004. He was previously chairman and CEO of Unilever. ■