The 2021 proxy season, occurring during a gradual yet optimistic recovery from COVID-19, still reflected the pandemic’s significant human and economic impacts that affected business operations, financial performance and annual meeting processes. At the same time, longer term investor interest in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), sustainability and Human Capital Management (HCM) continues to intensify. Companies are responding with enhanced governance, compensation and sustainability practices – and their disclosure -- via multiple channels.
While the immediate impacts of the pandemic should continue to diminish, valuable lessons learned from this crucible should endure.
We’ve gathered a panel of experts to discuss their experiences working in this new environment, examine trends emerging from the recent proxy season, and recommend strategies to tell your best proxy story.
In this webinar, you’ll learn:
- How COVID-19 intensified investor focus on corporate sustainability practices, and emphasized the need for companies to align their practices and disclosures
- Trends in board and workforce composition and diversity, executive compensation, sustainability and related disclosure
- Why ESG shareholder proposals are achieving record support as investors continue to focus on long term sustainability
- How activists are focusing their efforts, targets and tactics
- Strategies for 2021 engagement and 2022 proxy season planning
Speakers:
Ray Cameron, Head of The Americas, BlackRock Investment Stewardship
Gale Chang, Associate General Counsel, Bank of America
Heather Marshall, Senior Director Talent and Rewards, Willis Towers Watson
Sheena VanLeuven, Director, PJT Camberview
Moderator:
Ron Schneider, Director of Corporate Governance Services, DFIN