July 8, 2011 – Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, has been named “Business of the Year” at the 2011 First Women Awards for being the only FTSE 100 business where women make up at least 50 per cent of the executive leadership team.
The First Women awards, now in their seventh year, aims to “unearth women whose achievement and individual actions have helped and are helping to remove barriers and open up opportunities for others to follow. It recognises female pioneers across British business, professional and public life.” The awards also annually recognize a company for its leadership in supporting the achievement of women.
The First Women Business of the Year award was presented by Diana Brightmore-Armour, CEO of Corporate Banking for Lloyd’s Banking Group, sponsor of the Awards. Ms Brightmore-Armour said, “As the only FTSE 100 business where women make up at least 50 per cent of the executive leadership team, Shire sets a great example of the benefits of diversity in leadership. While the company does not set gender targets, it does foster what it calls a “Brave” culture, which aims to provide all employees with a supportive environment that embraces diversity at all levels.”
Angus Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shire, said: “This important award is a great acknowledgement of our Brave culture. We aim to provide all employees with the support for career enhancement, where talent and experience are rewarded on their merit. Shire’s drive to attract and encourage diverse opinions and experiences has played a significant role in Shire’s success and the success of the individuals within it.”
For further information please contact:
Media
Jessica Mann (jmann@shire.com)
+44 1256 894 280
SHIRE PLC
Shire is a FTSE100 company. Shire has a strategic goal to become the leading specialty biopharmaceutical company that focuses on meeting the needs of the specialist physician. Shire focuses its business on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), human genetic therapies (HGT) and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases as well as opportunities in other therapeutic areas to the extent they arise through acquisitions. Shire’s in-licensing, merger and acquisition efforts are focused on products in specialist markets with strong intellectual property protection and global rights. Shire believes that a carefully selected and balanced portfolio of products with strategically aligned and relatively small-scale sales forces will deliver strong results.
For further information on Shire, please visit the Company’s website: www.shire.com.
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