SAN FRANCISCO — After voting to recommend against a shareholder proposal that demanded it commit to interviewing women and minorities when it has open board positions, Amazon’s board has shifted course — and says it has adopted a policy to include a diverse slate of candidates for director openings.
The change was announced Monday and comes after letters from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and members of the Congressional Black Caucus were sent to the company on Friday expressing concern about its resistance to the proposal, which asked Amazon to commit to what’s known as the Rooney Rule for hiring.
The shift comes as tech companies have been increasingly held to account for the low numbers of women, Hispanics and African Americans both in the executive ranks and among their technical staffs, numbers which have remained stubbornly low despite several years of pressure to better reflect the customers they serve.
In letters to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and members of the Congressional Black Caucus on Monday, Amazon vice president for public policy Brian Huseman said the company had reached the decision after listening to feedback from the caucuses, Amazon employees, shareholders and other stakeholders.
