Johnson & Johnson Removes Race, Gender, Ethnicity Criteria from Board Framework
Johnson & Johnson removed references to gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation and nationality from its board selection criteria following NLPC outreach. This governance change coincides with S&P 500 companies’ board minority disclosure rate dipping to 78% in 2025 from 99% in 2024, potentially impacting ESG ratings.
1. Board Selection Criteria Revision
Johnson & Johnson eliminated all references to gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation and nationality from its guidelines for nominating new directors. The revised framework removes demographic considerations that had previously been embedded in its board recruitment policy.
2. Engagement with NLPC
The National Legal and Policy Center requested the removal of diversity language and confirmed J&J had already implemented comparable revisions, ending further discussions. This followed similar agreements with other companies such as American Express and Deere.
3. Governance and Investor Impact
Investors may reassess governance risk and ESG scores as corporate diversity disclosures evolve. S&P 500 companies’ board minority representation reporting fell to 78% in 2025 from 99% in 2024, reflecting shifting disclosure practices and potential changes in investor sentiment.