May 15, 2006 - Greensboro, N.C. - The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL^®) ranked among the overall Top 5 providers of executive education worldwide in a survey released today by the Financial Times. CCL is the only institution focused exclusively on leadership education in the survey, placing it in the company of many of the world's elite business schools.

CCL, which has campuses in North America, Europe and Asia, is also ranked No. 5 worldwide for open-enrollment programs and No. 9 for custom programs.

With its No. 5 ranking, the Financial Times ranked CCL's open-enrollment programs in the top 10 worldwide for the fifth straight year. The Center's open-enrollment programs also placed among the Top 5 in four categories: course design, teaching materials, faculty and aims achieved.

CCL's custom programs were rated among the Top 5 in two categories: value for money and teaching materials.

Doug Riddle, CCL's global director of coaching and feedback services, is quoted extensively in an article about coaching that accompanies the rankings. In the following excerpt from the article "Personal Trainers Make It Less Lonely at the Top," Riddle talks about the keys to success as a leadership coach: What makes a good coach? One who has the ability to think as part of a team says Mr. Riddle. A high degree of interpersonal skills are also necessary, as well as the ability to be objective and self-aware.

The Financial Times executive education rankings were based on surveys of organizations and individuals from around the world who rated leading executive education providers, such as Duke, Stanford and London Business School, for quality and impact. The full report is posted in the Executive Education section of FT.com.

"It is a distinct honor for the Center to be ranked consistently among the top educational institutions in the world," CCL President John Alexander said. "The Financial Times' survey findings confirm that our work is creating significant and lasting impact for the individuals and organizations we serve."

About the Leadership Development Institute (LDI) at Eckerd College
As a Network Affiliate of the Center for Creative Leadership since 1981, the Leadership Development Institute at Eckerd College has been delivering internationally-acclaimed, high-quality leadership training programs to organizations throughout the country and the world. Leaders at all levels of participating organizations have benefited from the uncommon blend of leadership research and real-world expertise delivered by the Institute.

Located on the scenic campus of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, LDI serves an international clientele including many Fortune 500 companies and top government and not-for-profit organizations.