Karen Benson, Director of Global Compliance and Ethics for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL), has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the 2015 Attorneys Who Matter. Attorneys Who Matter represent all areas of practice, including federal agencies, in-house counsel, top ethics and compliance officers of major companies and outside counsel. The Attorneys Who Matter raise the bar for ethical behavior in their industries and boast a commendable track record of public service, legal community engagement and academic involvement. Ms. Benson is included in the Ethics and Compliance category on Ethisphere’s annual list for her contribution to raising the profile of corporate ethics and integrity.
“We are very proud of Karen for this great achievement,” said Bradley H. Stein, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Royal Caribbean abides by the highest standards of business ethics, and Karen has helped develop and uphold the high bar we set for ourselves. Congratulations to Karen for a very well-deserved recognition by her esteemed peers.”
Ms. Benson joined RCL in 2011 and serves in the cruise company’s Legal Department. In her role, she oversees RCL’s Global Compliance and Ethics Group, which advises employees on ethics policies and standards; manages the Ethics “Address Wrongdoing As Responsible Employees” (AWARE) Hotline; administers employee ethics training; and monitors and addresses corporate policy and ethics violations.
“Each year, we watch the bar raise for corporate ethics and compliance through our research around the World’s Most Ethical Companies,” said Ethisphere’s Chief Executive Officer Timothy Erblich. “This continuous, year-over-year advancement is due, in-part, to the legal profession and those who are committed to moving businesses forward with integrity like those listed on the 2015 Attorneys Who Matter. We congratulate Ms. Benson, who understands the importance of ethics in business and leading by example.”
Prior to joining Royal Caribbean, Ms. Benson practiced as a regulatory attorney for 10 years in private practice.
