Colgate-Palmolive To Oppose Proposal Seeking End To DEI Criteria For Board In US

Colgate-Palmolive informed the National Legal and Policy Center that it plans to ask shareholders to vote against a proposal to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) criteria in selecting board members.

The proposal comes as companies, including Goldman Sachs, Walmart, Target, and Meta, have dropped or reviewed DEI policies amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump and conservative groups. Colgate stated that Directors should bring a range of skills, experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds to the Board. In its 2025 proxy filing, the company said three Director Nominees were members of under-represented communities, though the shareholder group questioned the definition. The company noted that about two-thirds of its net sales come from markets outside the United States.