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People moves: Erin Cox joins Walmart as new governance and legal chief
Plus the SEC and TD Bank make changes to their leadership teams Walmart has named Erin Nealy Cox as its next EVP of global governance, chief legal officer and corporate secretary. Cox joins Walmart from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where she has served as a partner in the government, regulatory and internal investigations practice group. She previously served as the US Attorney for the Northern District of Texas and was also appointed to and chaired the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. Prior to this, Cox was an executive managing director at Stroz Friedberg, a global cybersecurity and risk management firm. ‘To…
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NVIDIA joins wave of firms reducing DEI disclosures in annual filings
The chipmaker has trimmed DEI and ESG details, keeping only broad statements on inclusion and compliance January saw NVIDIA file its annual report (form 10‑K) with the SEC, one of the first of the season. The document shows a notable reduction and removal of DEI disclosures compared with the company’s filing for the year before. In similar filings from other public companies like Ford Motor Company and Netflix, the use of DEI‑related language has changed in different ways, offering context for how corporate disclosure practices are evolving. In a lengthy LinkedIn analysis, Michelle Leder, founder and editor at footnoted.com, it…
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Thirteen state bills could threaten proxy advisor independence, warns Glass Lewis
Legislation advancing across US states may restrict the ability of proxy advisors to give independent voting recommendations The 2025 Corporate Governance Awards showcase a governance landscape undergoing rapid and transformative change. Last year’s submissions reveal a clear inflection point as companies confront heightened regulatory scrutiny, accelerating AI adoption and growing stakeholder expectations, pressures that are now reshaping day to day work for governance, risk and compliance professionals. Click here to download the Winners Report >> Across the award categories, common themes emerged that define what effective GRC looks like today. Organizations are embedding AI into board evaluations, compliance programs and…
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Inside the new era of governance: Lessons from the 2025 awards
Glass Lewis has warned that a wave of state-level legislation targeting proxy advisory firms could reshape the sector and potentially limit the ability of investors to access independent governance advice. In a statement, the firm said that 13 US states are considering measures that could make it significantly more difficult for proxy advisors to operate and provide voting recommendations to institutional investors. Glass Lewis argues that the initiatives are designed to curb that influence by placing new requirements and restrictions on proxy advice. According to the firm, critics of proxy advisors are attempting to bypass federal lawmakers and regulators by…
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The week in GRC: BP faces shareholder rebellion over climate disclosures as the Trump administration sues California over EV mandates
This week’s governance, compliance and risk-management stories from around the web – Tensions are escalating between BP and investors ahead of its April AGM, as disputes grow over shareholder rights and climate disclosure demands. According to The Wall Street Journal (paywall), the oil company has urged investors to vote against a shareholder resolution calling for more detailed disclosures about how it evaluates investment decisions and manages project costs and value creation. BP argues that the proposal duplicates existing reporting and could complicate its efforts to streamline disclosures as it seeks to rebuild investor confidence after pivoting back toward oil and…
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People moves: Trustpilot unveils chief trust officer role as MVW general counsel James Hunter is set to retire
Plus Choice Hotels, Arcutis Biotherapeutics and Liberty Media grow their legal teams Trustpilot has named Shazadi Stinton as its new chief trust officer, a newly created role at the reviews company. It joins the likes of Salesforce, Airbnb and Docusign by introducing the role, which sits at the intersection of security, data privacy, compliance and ethical AI initiatives. Specifically, Stinton will oversee Trustpilot’s content integrity, fraud prevention and the legal and governance framework. She will work closely with the company’s technology, public affairs and product teams to ensure the company’s integrity standards remain high. Stinton joins from the MONY Group…
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‘We believe many ESG-driven decisions lack objectivity’: NLPC director Paul Chesser on why companies should shun culture-war activism
Conservative watchdog says it is challenging what it sees as a growing threat of politicized corporate activity For more than two decades, the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) has positioned itself as a prominent conservative watchdog challenging what it sees as the growing politicization of corporate America. As director of the organization’s Corporate Integrity Project – an initiative that uses shareholder proposals and public campaigns to target corporations it believes are adopting excessively progressive policies – Paul Chesser embodies that mission. A former journalist with nearly 25 years in the conservative nonprofit sector, Chesser has led NLPC’s expanded shareholder…
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EEOC launches campaign targeting DEI-related workplace discrimination
The move signals heightened scrutiny for corporate diversity programs, raising questions about disclosure, policies and the risk of lawsuits The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) under acting chair Andrea Lucas has launched a major public awareness campaign and revised guidance on discrimination related to DEI matters in the workplace. The move could reshape how companies approach disclosure of DEI initiatives, how they craft corporate policies and which legal risks employers may face. On EEOC’s official LinkedIn page the agency posted a video and statement titled ‘DEI and the law: how to recognize discrimination – and what to do about…
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Why modern proxy statements matter: key trends shaping shareholder engagement in 2026
As we settle into 2026, one thing becomes clear: modern proxy statements have evolved from dense compliance filings into strategic shareholder communication tools that shape investor perception, trust and voting outcomes. Click here to download the playbook >> This Playbook highlights how expectations from institutional investors and proxy advisors have intensified, making clarity, structure and visual communication essential components of an effective proxy. Industry voices, including Amanda Thrash of The Williams Companies and Jonathan Kuai of Korn Ferry, emphasize that today’s proxies must balance required disclosures, investor expected information and voluntary narrative to create a complete and credible story about…
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The week in GRC: Lululemon boardroom fight intensifies as judge approves settlement between SEC and Pfizer
This week’s governance, compliance and risk-management stories from around the web – Lululemon founder Chip Wilson has ramped up his campaign against the board of Lululemon Athletica, accusing its board of directors of weak governance and ‘strategic drift’ as he presses for widespread boardroom changes. As reported by The Wall Street Journal (paywall), Wilson wrote in a letter to shareholders that months of private engagement with the board had failed to produce meaningful reforms, arguing the company lacks the creative and brand expertise needed to sustain growth. Wilson launched a proxy fight in December and hopes to replace three directors…