Message from Vince Forlenza and Chris Reidy
We are in the midst of building a bigger, better and bolder BD, with new teams and new ways of doing things. We must do this work the right way – with a strong set of values and with unwavering integrity.
As we move forward, our teams are under significant pressure to continue making the integration a success and to deliver on our commitments to each other and to our customers, shareholders, patients and stakeholders. One thing we want to express clearly and make sure everyone understands is that when we talk about delivering on our financial and other commitments and goals, it should be absolutely clear to everyone that we will do so only ethically and lawfully. We want to be sure that everyone understands this and that no one minimizes its importance.
When people feel stress, they may sometimes consider cutting corners, may fail to act in line with our high ethical standards. In a company of more than 45,000 associates, we also recognize that individuals may not always make the best choice or make the right decision. A legal or compliance lapse can do major damage to a company’s performance and reputation. Consider the recent scandals at such companies as Volkswagen, General Motors, Toshiba, or Petrobras. One thing we have seen consistently is that focusing exclusively on performance can have very negative and even permanent impact on a company.
As we all work towards the important goals and commitments we have made personally and as a company, you should always keep in the front of your mind our first and most important value—We do what is right. To do what is right, we must conduct business in accordance with our Code of Conduct, policies, procedures and laws.
If you are ever unsure whether what you or a colleague are considering is the right thing to do, we urge you to raise your concerns. You can talk to your manager; you can talk to HR; you can talk to your colleagues in the Law Group and the Ethics and you can call the BD Help Line to ask a question or report a concern. Do not assume that if we do it, it must be right.
Thank you for your continued support in upholding our values and our strong culture of ethics and integrity.