The chairman of a large British firm recalls how his company secretary (general counsel) decided to draft an ethics code with appropriately lofty standards.

ECONOMIST: Doing well by doing good

Remember, Enron had an industry-leading code of ethics.

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An important one is Certified Financial Planner, a designation awarded by the CFP Board of Standards in Denver after classes, some work experience, an exam and a pledge to abide by a code of ethics.

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Some are mighty empires: at United Technologies, for example, Pat Gnazzo presides over an international network of 160 business-ethics officers who distribute a code of ethics, in 24 languages, to people who work for this defence and engineering giant all round the world.

ECONOMIST: Doing well by doing good

Now in her 70s, she is an industry matriarch who has a strong eye, but more significantly, a strong code of ethics.

WSJ: Barbara Gladstone