REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Speaking to
shareholders at Microsoft Corp.'s annual meeting on Wednesday,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Satya
Nadella highlighted how the company's growth mindset has
propelled innovation and transformation within the past year.
"There is no doubt that the digital transformation of the past
year has opened the door to greater opportunity for our customers
and for Microsoft. But it has also increased our
responsibility in a world where technology must
do more to address the pressing challenges we
collectively face," said Satya
Nadella, Chairman and CEO, Microsoft.
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Amy Hood recapped Microsoft's strong
performance in fiscal year 2021 and outlook for the current fiscal
year, powered by accelerating digital transformation and consistent
strong execution. Hood noted that the company's strong momentum
focused on growing usage across Microsoft's
differentiated cloud offerings and delivering new
consumer experiences.
At the meeting, Microsoft's shareholders acted on the following
proposals:
- Elected 12 directors to serve until the next annual meeting of
shareholders, including the new addition of Carlos Rodriguez. All directors attended the
annual shareholders meeting.
- Approved, on a nonbinding advisory basis, the compensation of
the company's named executive officers.
- Approved the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, to replace the
Microsoft Employee Stock Purchase Plan approved by shareholders in
November 2012.
- Ratified the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the
company's independent auditor for fiscal year 2022.
- Rejected a shareholder proposal submitted by Arjuna Capital to
prepare a report on median race and gender gaps, given that
Microsoft details its commitments and progress achieving greater
diversity and inclusion and ensuring pay equity in its annual
Global Diversity and Inclusion Report.
- Approved a shareholder proposal by Arjuna Capital to prepare a
report on the company's workplace sexual harassment policies.
Microsoft already shares with employees annual data on the volume
of sexual harassment concerns raised and the results of harassment
investigations and has adopted plans to begin annual
public reporting.
- Rejected a proposal from Harrington Investments concerning the
sales of facial recognition technology, as it does not take into
account Microsoft's extensive public commitments and disclosures on
this topic.
- Rejected a proposal from NorthStar Asset Management to prepare
a report on Microsoft's commitment to the Fair Chance Business
Pledge, as the company has numerous steps in place to effectively
implement The Pledge and has already implemented multiple
safeguards to protect job candidates.
- Rejected a proposal submitted by The Congregation of the
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace and others to prepare a report on
the company's lobbying activities, as Microsoft is committed to a
thoughtful approach that's been recognized for leading practices,
including publishing an annual report on its political action
committee.
The results will be reported in a Form 8-K that will be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Microsoft's board of directors consists of Reid Hoffman, general partner at Greylock
Partners; Hugh Johnston, vice
chairman and CFO of PepsiCo; Teri
List, former executive vice president and CFO of Gap Inc.;
Satya Nadella, Microsoft chairman
and CEO; Sandra E. Peterson,
operating partner at Clayton,
Dubilier & Rice; Penny Pritzker,
founder and chairman of PSP Partners; Carlos Rodriguez, president and CEO of ADP;
Charles W. Scharf, president and CEO
of Wells Fargo & Company; John W.
Stanton, chairman of Trilogy Partnerships; John W. Thompson, Microsoft lead independent
director; Emma Walmsley, CEO of
GlaxoSmithKline; and Padmasree
Warrior, founder, president and CEO, Fable Group Inc.
Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) enables digital
transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an
intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every
organization on the planet to achieve more.
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SOURCE Microsoft Corp.