CEOs Sharpen ESG Positions as Conservative Backlash Intensifies

CEOs at Home Depot Inc, Booking Holdings Inc. and other executives found themselves clashing with investors this proxy season as companies faced an unprecedented level of pushback on ESG policies.

Sharp investor queries at Meta Platforms Inc, Mastercard Inc. and others took aim at corporate environmental, social or governance policies—particularly on diversity and inclusion efforts—claiming that the practices are “woke” or misguided.

While many companies have shied away from talking too much about ESG amid a conservative backlash over the acronym, some executives dove into the anti-ESG fray in responding directly to investors during question-and-answer sessions at annual meetings.

Companies ...