A message from Don Robert, Chief Executive Officer

What is Corporate Responsibility? What are we ‘corporately responsible’ for and why do we and 90% of the largest companies registered on the London Stock Exchange, report on CR?

Well, simply it’s because we recognise that we don’t run our business in a vacuum. Large companies such as ours are part of the fabric of society; something that is particularly true for Experian which touches consumers’ lives in so many ways. In many respects Experian is an essential but often hidden part of daily life, underpinning growing economies with its capabilities to develop a well regulated credit granting system. Less familiar services range from ensuring a charity can make the best use of its marketing budget to helping consumers prevent identity theft.

But our impact goes beyond the effects of our products and services. Understanding our impacts and making sure that we consider them carefully in the way we do business is how we define ‘Corporate Responsibility’. We take into account the concerns of the people whose lives we affect; the 13,500 people who work for us, their families, friends and the wider community, through to our clients and their customers, shareholders, governments, voluntary groups, charities and of course the pressure groups who champion the issues that make us a better society. We can’t promise to always get it right. At times we walk a tightrope between conflicting demands but we do believe that by working with these essential groups of people we can identify changes in society, manage risks and ultimately build more sustainable business.

And this is what we want – a better business both now - as a result of a responsible attitude to product development and the way we carry out our work with clients and consumers - and in the future as we attract better employees because of an increasingly positive reputation. And this is what’s in it for us; a better, more sustainable, more competitive business.

Overall, I believe that our general impact on society is overwhelmingly positive but as you read this report you will see how we are working on the specifics. There are examples of our products and services tailored to meet particular social needs. You will see how we are leading the charge on consumer education and financial awareness. It explains how we are doing our bit to help cut CO2 emissions and the way we are setting out to be a good and fair employer.

This is a very wide ranging agenda, and many of these things won’t pay back this year or even next. But we have to remember that we are part of the social fabric, and that doesn’t work to a quarterly timetable. Experian may have been independent for less than a year but we plan to be around for a long time. We are investing for the future. I hope you enjoy our first CR Report.

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