Avery Dennison Named One of North America's Top Companies For Leaders By Hewitt Associates

PASADENA, Calif. – September 19, 2007 - Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE:AVY) has been named one of North America’s Top Companies for Leaders. Sponsored by global human resources services company Hewitt Associates, in partnership with The RBL Group and FORTUNE magazine, the Top Companies for Leaders in North America were selected and ranked by an esteemed panel of judges based on criteria including leadership practices, company reputation, leadership culture and values and business performance.

Based in Pasadena, Calif., Avery Dennison is a global leader in pressure-sensitive labeling materials, retail tag, ticketing and branding systems, and office products, employing more than 30,000 people in 51 countries. Avery Dennison was ranked tenth out of more than 200 companies in the survey of North America’s Top Companies for Leaders.

When comparing the Top Companies for Leaders in North America with more than 200 other companies in North America, Hewitt reported that it found one overarching characteristic that set companies in this list apart from the rest–Top Companies in North America make leadership a critical part of the company’s organizational fabric. Specifically, the study found that leadership practices at Top Companies in North America are an inherent part of the culture, and that developing future leaders is simply a way of operating that must be intertwined with running the business.

“At Avery Dennison, we have placed a strong emphasis on developing good leaders throughout our organization,” said Dean A. Scarborough, president and chief executive officer. “This focus on strong leadership has played an important role in our ability to navigate an increasingly competitive marketplace and expand into a global operation with a strong presence in more than 50 countries. We appreciate the recognition we have received from Hewitt and Fortune and commend them for their role in supporting and promoting good leadership skills.”

“Hewitt would like to congratulate Avery Dennison as being named one of the Top Companies for Leaders in North America,” said Bob Gandossy, principal and global practice leader of Hewitt’s Consulting business. “While many companies in this region have made significant strides in building leadership capabilities, our research reveals that Top Companies, such as Avery Dennison, have cultures that cultivate and nurture their talent, and a reputation for doing it well. In an increasingly complex and global marketplace, these characteristics differentiate successful businesses from unsuccessful ones.”

About the Top Companies for Leaders Survey

The Top Companies for Leaders Study is based on approximately 550 global organizations with an average employee size of 27,000. Almost 70 percent of the participating companies had revenues of $500 million or more.

Hewitt, The RBL Group and FORTUNE utilized a three-step screening process to identify the finalist companies. This included assessing survey responses, conducting in-depth interviews and analyzing financial performance in relation to industry. This information was then provided to a panel of expert judges in four regions to select and rank a 2007 Top Companies for Leaders list in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America.

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