A conservative corporate watchdog group is promoting a pro-fossil fuel scientist and lawyer to serve on the board of Exxon Mobil Corp., attempting to push back against the growing ESG movement.
The National Legal and Policy Center recommended Don van der Vaart, currently a North Carolina judge and former secretary of the state’s Department of Environmental Quality, to serve on the board, as this month, a new Securities and Exchange Commission rule makes it easier for shareholders to recommend board members.
Last year, progressive investment fund Engine No. 1 proposed a competing set of recommendations for Exxon Mobil’s board, and three of its four choices won approval to be board members. This was a victory for the ESG movement, which stands for environment, social, and governance. In this case, governance would be members of the governing board.
Photo credit: (Reuters/Jonathan Alcorn)
