Goldman Sachs plans to drop diversity factors from board candidate criteria, WSJ reports

Core Viewpoint - Goldman Sachs is planning to remove diversity-related factors such as race, gender identity, and sexual orientation from its board-candidate criteria, reflecting a shift in its approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices [1]. Company Actions - Goldman Sachs is set to eliminate DEI criteria from its board assessment process, following pressure from conservative groups and a broader trend among corporations responding to the Trump administration's stance on DEI [1]. - The bank previously removed a "diversity and inclusion" section from its annual filing and ended a requirement for companies to have at least two diverse board members before being advised on IPOs [1]. Governance Committee Changes - The board's governance committee currently evaluates candidates based on four primary criteria, which include a broad definition of diversity encompassing various viewpoints and backgrounds [1]. - The committee plans to remove references to demographic factors such as race, gender identity, ethnicity, and sexual orientation from its candidate evaluation process [1].