Marc Baranski Talks ESG and Pay Programs on NACD Panel

2020 had a profound impact on corporate governance and responsibility, with the pandemic shining a spotlight on health and safety and the national focus on racial justice drawing sharp attention to diversity and inclusion in corporate America.

Corporate sustainability risks and opportunities have received increasing interest from investors for the past decade. Environmental concerns initially led the list, but attention to human capital has swiftly emerged as an additional focal point of discussion in the boardroom.

Eager to give greater attention to stakeholders beyond investors, corporate boards have been adding environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues to their agenda.

Going public means adding structure and formality to many areas of a company. Part of that structure includes forming a compensation committee with a clear charter, delineated responsibilities, and a calendar of actions.

The turbulent events of 2020 have heightened many American corporations’ sense of political and social responsibility. With the pandemic exacerbating income inequality and climate change still a long-term threat, investors and critics are calling on companies to care for all stakeholders, not just investors. Many boards are attending to their long-standing interests in environmental, social and governance issues more than ever before.

Since the Business Roundtable’s 2019 call for greater attention to all stakeholders, corporate boards have been elevating environmental, social, and governance issues in their discussions.

With rising calls for social reform in 2020, investors and the media are focusing attention on companies’ efforts for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

By promoting diversity and inclusion, directors spur behavioral modification, not just D&I scorekeeping. They thereby lay the foundation for accelerated and permanent change.