Executive Sessions of Independent Directors
As noted above, at each regularly scheduled Board meeting, a separate executive session with only the independent directors present is scheduled. The Lead Director chairs these sessions and, as appropriate, apprises the Chairman, President and CEO of the issues discussed.
Board Access to Senior Management
Board members have complete and direct access to Colgate’s senior management. Of particular note, the Director of Corporate Audit meets with the Audit Committee privately four times a year. As described above, the Board encourages management’s attendance at Board and Committee meetings so that (a) management can provide additional insight into the items being discussed because of personal involvement in these areas, and (b) managers with future leadership potential are given exposure to the Board. Interaction between directors and senior managers also takes place between scheduled board meetings, as directors are invited to, and often do, contact senior managers directly with questions and suggestions.
Assessing the Board's Performance
Each year, the Board evaluates its performance against criteria that it has determined are important to its success. One or more of the following topics may be considered during such evaluations: financial oversight, succession planning, executive compensation, corporate governance, strategic planning, compliance and ethics and Board structure and role. The Board reviews the results of the evaluation and identifies meaningful steps to enhance its performance.
Director Orientation and Education
The Company provides a thorough orientation for new directors, which includes extensive background materials and meetings with members of senior management. The Company also provides ongoing director education to ensure awareness of areas relevant to the Company’s business, including corporate governance, executive compensation and industry developments. Periodically, these programs are led by outside experts with relevant governance, legal and business expertise. In addition, from time to time, Board members participate in outside director education programs.
Board Compensation Review
The time needed to attend Board and Committee meetings and review materials in preparation for meetings, as well as the time commitments for other Board duties by each director, is substantial. Given these responsibilities, Board compensation is reviewed annually by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to determine whether it is appropriate. This review includes a comparison of the board compensation practices of other leading companies. The Board believes that a substantial portion of a director’s compensation should be provided and held in Company stock.
Board Interaction with Institutional Investors, the Press, Customers, Etc.
The Board believes that it is primarily the responsibility of management to maintain open communication with stockholders, as well as employees and other constituencies, but the Board , in its discretion, may determine to deal directly with stockholders or any other constituency when appropriate.
Retaining Independent Counsel and Consulting with Outside Advisors
The Board and its Committees may at any time determine that they should seek the advice of independent counsel or consultants with respect to any issue. The Personnel and Organization Committee has adopted a policy regarding the use of independent compensation consultants, a copy of which is available on the Company's website.