PPD, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPDI) today announced it has been named one of the Best Employers in North Carolina for 2009 and is featured in the July/August issue of NC Magazine. PPD ranked number seven among all companies and is the only contract research organization to receive the award.
The award honors the best places of employment in North Carolina, recognizing companies that benefit the state’s economy and work force. In addition to NC Magazine, the North Carolina Chamber, the North Carolina Society for Human Resources Management and Best Companies Group created the program.
A broad group of PPD’s North Carolina employees were surveyed to gauge the company’s workplace philosophy, policies, practices and systems. Employees were asked about the company’s leadership and planning, corporate culture and communication, role satisfaction, work environment, supervisor relationship, training and development, pay and benefits, and overall engagement with the company.
“PPD is committed to recruiting, developing and retaining top talent and creating a challenging and rewarding work environment for our employees,” said Ed Murray, senior vice president of human resources for PPD. “With more than 3,000 employees in North Carolina, we are honored to be named one of the state’s best employers. We value our employees’ contributions, which make PPD a great place to work.”
Sherry Melton, vice president of communications for the North Carolina Chamber said, “On behalf of the North Carolina Chamber, I would like to congratulate the leaders and employees of PPD.” She added, “Best Companies Group informed us the quality of the applications was very high, and that the winners constitute a very solid group of esteemed companies that continue to attract and develop high-quality employees.”
To be considered for participation, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:
- Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity;
- Be a publicly or privately held business;
- Have a facility in North Carolina;
- Have at least 15 employees in North Carolina; and
- Be in business a minimum of one year.
PPD is a leading global contract research organization providing discovery, development and post-approval services as well as compound partnering programs. Our clients and partners include pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, academic and government organizations. With offices in 38 countries and more than 10,000 professionals worldwide, PPD applies innovative technologies, therapeutic expertise and a commitment to quality to help its clients and partners maximize returns on their R&D investments and accelerate the delivery of safe and effective therapeutics to patients. For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.ppdi.com.
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions contained in this news release, including expectations and assumptions about PPD’s selection as one of North Carolina’s best employers, are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Although PPD attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors which could cause results to differ materially include the following: continued success in sales growth; loss of large contracts; increased cancellation rates; economic conditions and outsourcing trends in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, academic and government industry segments; competition within the outsourcing industry; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks associated with and dependence on collaborative relationships; risks associated with the development and commercialization of drugs, including earnings dilution and obtaining regulatory approval; risks associated with acquisitions and investments, such as impairments; rapid technological advances that make our products and services less competitive; risks that we may not continue our dividend policy; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for PPD, copies of which are available free of charge upon request from the PPD investor relations department.
PPD
Media:
Sue Ann Pentecost, 919-456-5890
sueann.pentecost@rtp.ppdi.com
or
Analysts/Investors:
Luke
Heagle, 910-558-7585
luke.heagle@wilm.ppdi.com