2008-12-01 23:00:01 -

newsroom.cigna.com/ - The New York Business Group on Health (NYBGH) will present the winners of its annual awards tonight at its Fourteenth Annual Tribute to Leadership, which recognizes excellence in New York Health Care and Business Leadership.
William C. Weldon, chairman and chief executive officer for Johnson & Johnson is the recipient

of the 2008 "Leadership in Business Award." H. Edward Hanway, chairman and chief executive officer for CIGNA Corporation will be awarded "The Leon J. Warshaw Leadership in Health Care Award." Both awards will be presented at the Union League Club in New York.
"We are pleased to honor both Mr. Hanway and Mr. Weldon, two innovators in our industry who exemplify extraordinary service and leadership, as this year"s awards recipients," said Laurel Pickering, Executive Director, NYBGH. "Both CIGNA and Johnson & Johnson are committed members of NYBGH and actively support our mission of improving health care quality and making health care available to everyone who lives and works in the New York region."
"It is with great pride that I will accept this leadership award on behalf of all CIGNA's employees," said Hanway. "Collaboration with groups such as the NYBGH is one way we demonstrate our commitment to improving the health, well-being and security of individuals we serve across the country."
"At Johnson & Johnson, we apply our expertise and know-how to improving the availability and quality of health care," Weldon said. "We do so through our own actions and by collaborating with organizations such as NYBGH. This award reflects the efforts of all our employees and I"m honored to accept it."
Founded in 1982, NYBGH is a not-for-profit coalition of 150 businesses and is the only organization in the New York Metropolitan area exclusively devoted to employer health benefit issues. NYBGH brings employers and health care organizations together to improve the cost and quality of health care in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
About CIGNA
CIGNA (NYSE:CI), a global health service company, is dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and security. CIGNA Corporation's operating subsidiaries provide an integrated suite of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, as well as group life, accident and disability insurance, to approximately 47 million people throughout the United States and around the world. To learn more about CIGNA, visit www.cigna.com.
About Johnson & Johnson
Caring for the world, one person at a time?inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science - bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Our 119,400 employees at more than 250 Johnson & Johnson companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day, throughout the world.


New York Business Group on Health

Jerry Volk, 212-252-7440 x228

Jerry@nybgh.org

or

CIGNA

Kathleen Keenan, 215-761-4756

kathleen.keenan@cigna.com