The undergraduate program of the Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University today announced that J. Wayne Leonard, chief executive officer of Entergy Corporation, has been named Business Leader of the Year. Leonard will receive the award on Saturday, October 25 when he delivers the keynote speech on the Responsibilities of Leadership at the McDonough School's annual Business Day.  The speech will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. in Georgetown University's Gaston Hall. Leonard has been leading the integrated energy company since January 1999, where he has been a champion of environmental stewardship, low-income customers, and competitive market structure initiatives.

 Under Leonard's leadership, Entergy became the first U.S. utility company to make a voluntary commitment to stabilize its power plan emissions of carbon dioxide. Entergy is a founding member of the Pew Center for Global Climate Change and a member of the Partnership for Climate Action.  Leonard joined Entergy in April 1998 as president and chief operating officer of the company's domestic business, and he assumed additional responsibility for international operations in August 1998.

"Business Day is designed to make the Georgetown University community more attuned to the challenges and opportunities available in the business world," said Ann-Mary Kapusta, associate dean of the McDonough School undergraduate program. The McDonough School has honored a Business Leader of the Year since 1981, in recognition of outstanding leadership in the business community and service to others.

 In 2002, Entergy received the electric industry's highest honor, the Edison Award, from the Edison Electric Institute. Also in 2002, Entergy was named Global Power Company of the Year by the Platts/BusinessWeek Global Energy Awards, and Leonard was named a finalist in the category of CEO of the Year.

Leonard serves as chairman of the New Orleans United Way Board of Trustees. He is also a member of the Tulane University President's Council, the Committee for a Better New Orleans, and the Business Council of New Orleans. He serves on the Community Advisory Council for the New Orleans Saints.

"Our mission is to educate ethically responsible business leaders that will improve both the management of organizations and the global society in which we live," said McDonough School Dean John W. Mayo. "Honoring Wayne Leonard sends an important message to our students about the values we hold as an institution, and that it is possible for corporations to do good and remain competitive and profitable."

About Georgetown University
Georgetown University is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in America, founded in 1789 by Archbishop John Carroll. Georgetown today is a major student-centered, international, research university offering respected undergraduate, graduate and professional programs on its three campuses. For more information about Georgetown University, visit www.georgetown.edu.