10.31.2007 - 06:48pm ET

(CSRwire) ABBOTT PARK, IL - October 31, 2007 - Abbott recently was recognized as a leading company for diversity in two publications. Abbott was named an "Industry Sector Leader" in a special section on diversity in FORTUNE magazine, marking the 10th straight year that Abbott has been honored for diversity in the magazine. In addition, Abbott was named one of the "Most Admired Employers for 2007" by U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine.

"At Abbott, we value the diversity of our products, technologies, markets and most importantly, our people," said Stephen Fussell, senior vice president, Human Resources, Abbott. "Having a diverse workforce is critical to the success of Abbott's business, and we are gratified to be recognized for our continued efforts to attract and retain minority professionals."

The companies honored for diversity in FORTUNE magazine were selected by the National Organization for Diversity in Sales and Marketing Inc., based on applications submitted by companies. Abbott was honored for excellence in diversity strategy and initiatives. The annual diversity supplement appears in the Oct. 29, 2007 issue of FORTUNE magazine.

U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine named Abbott a "Most Admired Employer for 2007" based on results of a national survey of minorities in the fields of science, engineering and information technology, as well as non-technical professionals. Survey results identified strong corporate ethics, learning opportunities and excellent benefits as the most important employer characteristics cited by minority professionals.

Diversity a Long-Standing Priority for Abbott

Abbott's commitment to diversity starts at the top with the company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Miles D. White, who chairs the company's Executive Inclusion Council. The Council oversees the company's diversity and inclusion efforts, monitors the hiring and advancement of women and minorities in management, and supports programs that promote an inclusive work environment for all employees.

Abbott maintains aggressive goals for the recruitment, hiring and retention of women and minorities. Minorities at Abbott make up more than one-quarter (26 percent), and women nearly one-half (47 percent), of Abbott's total U.S. workforce. Abbott has increased the number of minorities in management by 68 percent and the number of women in management by 64 percent over the past five years.

Additional Recognition for Abbott's Diversity Efforts

In addition to diversity recognition in FORTUNE and U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology magazines, Abbott was recently included in Hispanic Business magazine's list of the nation's best companies for Hispanics. Abbott also has been included on DiversityInc magazine's list of the "Top 50 Companies for Diversity" for four years, and the company was named one of the "Top 50 Companies for Black MBAs to Work" by Black MBA Magazine.

Abbott Widely Recognized as a Premier Employer

Abbott has been included in Working Mother magazine's "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" for the past seven years, has been named one of the "50 Best Places to Launch a Career" by BusinessWeek and was included in the 2008 edition of the Princeton Review's Best Entry-Level Jobs. In addition, Abbott has been recognized by Science and The Scientist magazines as a top employer for scientists, and FORTUNE has named Abbott as one of "America's Most Admired Companies" every year since the list's inception in 1983.

About Abbott

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs 65,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the company's Web site at www.abbott.com.

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