/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - The Global Network Initiative (GNI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jermyn Brooks as its first Independent Chair, effective immediately.

As Independent Chair, Mr. Brooks will have responsibility for the governance of GNI's Board and will be a leading advocate and spokesperson for GNI in senior company and governmental discussions.

According to Bennett Freeman, Senior Vice President of Sustainability Research and Policy at Calvert Investments and Secretary of the Board of GNI, "Jermyn Brooks' extraordinary experience and reputation in the fields of corporate responsibility, transparency and accountability - together with his high-level relationships with business leaders around the world - will help GNI become a truly global initiative."

Mr. Brooks brings a wealth of international experience from both the private and not-for-profit sectors. He is currently Chair of Transparency International's (TI) Business Advisory Board and was Executive Director and CFO of TI from 2000 to 2003. Brooks joined TI after a career with PricewaterhouseCoopers which saw him elected worldwide chairman of the firm in 1997. During his career there he championed the introduction of corporate social responsibility issues into PwC strategies.

"GNI is uniquely placed to help the ICT industry, governments and society achieve positive solutions to the freedom of information and privacy challenges of the Internet," said Brooks. "I am excited to join the initiative when these issues are high on the agenda and at the point GNI has structured itself to grow internationally and demonstrate full accountability by its members."

On Thursday, January 27, Yahoo! is hosting an event in Washington D.C., where Mr. Brooks and Susan Morgan, the Executive Director of GNI, will speak about the priorities and focus for GNI in the year ahead. GNI's first public report is also available and can be found at www.globalnetworkinitiative.org.

About GNI: GNI is a multi-stakeholder group of companies, civil society organizations (including human rights and press freedom groups), investors and academics, who have created a collaborative approach to protect and advance freedom of expression and privacy in the ICT sector. GNI provides resources for ICT companies to help them address difficult issues related to freedom of expression and privacy that they may face anywhere in the world. GNI has created a framework of principles and a confidential, collaborative approach to working through challenges of corporate responsibility in the ICT sector.

Global Network Initiative

Global Network Initiative

GNI is a multi-stakeholder group of companies, civil society organizations (including human rights and press freedom groups), investors and academics, who have created a collaborative approach to protect and advance freedom of expression and privacy in the ICT sector. GNI provides resources for ICT companies to help them address difficult issues related to freedom of expression and privacy that they may face anywhere in the world. GNI has created a framework of principles and a confidential, collaborative approach to working through challenges of corporate responsibility in the ICT sector.

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