THE GOOD GAME: EV sales are UP, E.L.F.’s “Not So White Paper”, GSK’s $2.3bn settlement, Musk confuses Vegas
10/15/24
Live from the Overpaid Directors’ Brunch Lounge—home of the industry’s best echo chambers—it’s a fresh daily dive into the boardroom blunders of corporate America. Today’s top read: “Boards that Fail Like Sports Teams Missing Their Playoffs.”
It’s an all-new terrific Tuesday edition of Business Pants. Joined by Analyst-Hole Matt Moscardi! On today’s almond butter and AI jelly-filled proxy sandwich called October 15th, 2024: The Good Game!
Our show today is being sponsored by Free Float Analytics, the only platform measuring board power, connections, and performance for FREE.
THE ENVIRONMENT
Global EV sales up 30.5% in September as China shines, Europe recuperates
A Natural Gas Company Just Became the First to Be Sued Over Climate Change
For the first time ever, a natural gas company is being sued by a local government for misleading customers about fossil fuels and the dangers they pose to the environment. Oregon's Multnomah County has added the gas utility NW Natural to its lawsuit that includes Shell, Exxon, McKinsey, and dozens of other companies for allegedly hiding or obfuscating their roles in climate degradation.
DIVERSITY
How gender biases shape investor response to shareholder activism
Investors view CEOs more favorably when they respond to shareholder activism in ways that conform to gender stereotypes, according to new Cornell research.
29% of C-suite roles are now held by women
e.l.f. Beauty, N.C. A&T ‘Not So White Paper’ Links Diverse Boards to Corporate Success
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the nation’s largest historically Black college or university: “Over a decade of research from the commercial sector and academia shows that diversity in the boardroom can have several positive benefits for a company, including higher return on equity, reduced financial risk, better returns for shareholders and fewer lawsuits.”
LABOR
Unions Defy Their Leadership With More 'No' Votes on Contracts
Fed up with inflation and seizing a moment of labor power, workers at Boeing, AT&T and Southwest reject deals negotiated by union bosses
I tried a tool that lets your coworkers rate your character. The startup behind it wants employers to use it for hiring.
Amazon Could Be Forced to Treat Drivers as Employees
Amazon’s delivery system depends on third-party companies. But labor regulators have challenged that model, possibly opening the way for unionization
Home Depot orders corporate staff to take 8-hour retail shifts
STAKEHOLDERS RULE!
Ryanair is retaliating against Germany’s tax hikes by slashing routes and cutting 1.8 million seats
TD Bank was a safe haven for criminals, feds say — and will pay $3 billion for it
British pharma giant GSK strikes $2.3 billion deal to put an end to 80,000 U.S. lawsuits
DOJ indicates it’s considering Google breakup following monopoly ruling
SPEED ROUND
JetBlue is axing hot meals for economy flyers as it looks to cut costs
South Park creator Matt Stone asks if Sam Altman does anything other than 'go on podcasts'
Elon Musk’s underground transit system in Las Vegas is a magnet to trespassers and confused drivers who have to be escorted out
