2007 Interactive Annual Report - Renault

code of conduct
“making risk control everyone's business”
12
michel de virville,
Corporate Secretary
General*
WHy IS rENauLT uPdaTINg ITS cOdE
Of cONducT?
Ethical principles are essential to how
Renault does business. This is why we drew
up a Code of Conduct back in 1994, spelling
out the principles, conduct and practices
they entail in relationships within our own
business and with the world around us.
This code must evolve in step with the changes
in Renault’s environment, in particular those
resulting from our increasingly broad international
presence. By keeping risks relating
to unethical conduct well under control, we
gain added leverage for greater efficiency
New Laguna and New Laguna Grand Tour.
and help to safeguard business development
over the long term. As a result of economic
globalization, Renault has expanded into
countries where standards are not always
clearly defined or consistently applied, which
makes compliance all the more vital. This
is the context for the new Code of Conduct
and Compliance adopted by the Board of
Directors on September 26, 2007, which
comes into force on January 1, 2008.
WHaT arE THE maIN cHaNgES?
To begin with, Renault is setting up a permanent
compliance structure charged with
implementing and enforcing internal procedures,
and ensuring that these are in keeping
with best international practice in the field
of regulation and rules of conduct. It will be
overseen by a Compliance Officer appointed
by the Chief Executive. The Compliance
Officer will draw on the support of a Global
Compliance Committee with relays in all of
our business regions.
Another major new development is an organized
structure for whistle-blowing and internal
procedures for processing alerts at group
level, the aim being to get all employees
involved in risk control. Let me emphasize
that the sole purpose of this is to protect the
interests of the business. The system offers
additional room for employees to speak
up and is in no way intended to replace
procedures already provided for by law. It
allows all employees to draw attention to
misconduct, but only in areas that concern
finances, accounting, banking and the prevention
of corruption. It is in full keeping
with the regulations defined by the CNIL,
France's national committee for information
ethics. And it has absolutely nothing to do
with control and surveillance.
WHaT aSSuraNcES dOES IT OffEr
STaff mEmbErS?
Staff members who make use of the system
can be sure that their identity will remain fully
confidential. As for those whose conduct
or involvement is in question, they will be
informed as early as possible and will have
every chance to speak out and defend themselves.
All their rights will be fully respected,
and they will have unimpeded access to
information and protection afforded by the
law. They will be able to check all their personal
data and require corrections if needed.
No anonymous alerts will be considered.
HOW WILL THE cOdE bE dEPLOyEd
acrOSS THE grOuP?
It has been translated into ten languages
and the accompanying communications kit
comes in several different versions to allow
for the specifics of each business line. All
employees and newcomers to the group will
receive copies.
*On Feb. 1, 2008 T. Moulonguet replaced M. de Virville as
Compliance Officer.
2007 Renault Annual Report