Monique Villa, CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, has been named one of the world's 100 most influential people in business ethics in 2011 by Ethisphere, a think tank dedicated to the advancement of business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability.
Villa, who led the creation of the Foundation's free TrustLaw anti-corruption news service, ranked 43rd on the list – above U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama (58), Kenyan anti-corruption crusader John Githongo (49) and renowned economist Paul Collier (65).
"Thomson Reuters Foundation has been an influential global organization helping promote transparency in the governance of developing countries, fighting for women's rights around the world, and promoting anti-corruption tools and measures in the countries that need them most," Ethisphere said on its website.
Villa founded TrustLaw in 2010, not long after taking over as Thomson Reuters Foundation CEO with a mandate to expand on the activities of the old Reuters Foundation.
In addition to offering news, information and commentary on anti-corruption, good governance and women's rights, TrustLaw is committed to spreading the culture and practice of pro bono work around the world.
The Trustlaw Connect electronic platform connects non-governmental organisations and social enterprises in need of legal assistance with lawyers willing to work at no cost. The platform already has more than 600 organisations as members in countries as far afield as Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Haiti and Cambodia.
"This is a real honour, and great recognition of the work of the Foundation as a whole," Villa said. "It's tremendously rewarding to see the impact the Foundation's programmes have had on people's lives all over the world – whether in helping graft watchdogs hold governments to their obligations under anti-corruption treaties or helping women assert their legal rights."
Also included in Ethisphere's top 100 list were Indian anti-corruption campaigner Anna Hazare (1), Managing Director of International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde (31) and Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty (80).
Prior to joining the Foundation, Monique was Managing Director of Reuters Media and Chairman of Action Images. Monique managed the picture and text news business for Reuters from 2001.
A French national, Monique spent the first part of her career at Agence France-Presse (AFP) where she held a number of senior journalistic and management positions.
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