CW’s Excellence in Compliance Awards recognize the best and brightest in compliance.

At Compliance Week, we know the hard work chief compliance officers and their teams do on a daily basis. That's why we've developed the Excellence in Compliance Awards: to recognize individuals in the profession for their standout performance.

The winners of the 2021 Excellence in Compliance Awards will be announced during our 2021 Virtual Conference from May 11-13.

Below are the finalists in each category, as well as a list of last year's winners. For Lifetime Achievement in Compliance, no finalists will be selected—only a winner. This person will be announced in advance of the awards ceremony in May.

2020 Excellence in Compliance Awards winners

CCO of the Year: Duane Holloway, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, U.S. Steel

Lifetime Achievement in Compliance: Carrie Penman, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, NAVEX Global

Compliance Comeback of the Year: Joshua Drew, Group Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, VEON

Compliance Innovator of the Year: Alicia Schwarz, Deputy Chief Compliance Counsel (Global), Walt Disney Company

Compliance Mentor of the Year: Jay G. Martin, Senior Counsel, Willkie Farr & Gallagher

Rising Star in Compliance: Vera Powell, Senior Corporate Counsel, Delta Air Lines

Excellence in Compliance—Anti-Corruption: Alan Gibson, Assistant General Counsel, Compliance & Ethics, Microsoft

Excellence in Compliance—TPRM: Robert Seibel, Director of Legal Compliance, Abercrombie & Fitch

Excellence in Compliance—Cyber-security: David Kessler, Public Sector Counsel, Verizon

Excellence in Compliance—Data Privacy: Kalisa Barratt, Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer, Atrius Health

Excellence in Compliance—Training: Cindy Merlino, Global Compliance & Ethics Specialist, Pearson

Best Consultant/Advisor—Large Company: Duff & Phelps

Best Consultant/Advisor—Small Company: Bart Schwartz, Chairman, Guidepost Solutions

Best Technology Partner—Large Company: Refinitiv

Best Technology Partner—Small Company: LogicGate

What about Top Minds?

From 2016-2019, Compliance Week highlighted the best and brightest in the governance, risk, ethics, and compliance profession with the Top Minds award. Recipients participated in in-depth interviews and were recognized in a short ceremony at our National Conference in Washington D.C.

The Excellence in Compliance Awards have replaced our Top Minds awards going forward, though we are still proud to recognize the 47 recipients of that honor since 2016.