The Ethisphere Institute, an independent center of research promoting best practices in corporate ethics and compliance, announced the 2014 World's Most Ethical Companies. Included on the list from the property and casualty insurance industry are The Hartford and Sompo Japan, Swiss Re (the only reinsurer named on the list) and Arthur J. Gallagher (the only brokerage).

The World's Most Ethical Company assessment is based upon the Ethisphere Institute's Ethics Quotient framework, which collects a comprehensive sampling of definitive date in core competencies. Scores are generated in five key categories: ethics and compliance program (which makes up 25% of the company's score), reputation, leadership and innovation (20%), governance (10%), corporate citizenship and responsibility (25%), and culture of ethics (20%).

According to Ethisphere, the World's Most Ethical Company honorees lead their industries in compliance, corporate governance and social responsibility, and effectively align ethical business practices with performance and shape future industry ethical business standards.