BlackRock’s Shifts in Governance Leave ESG Foes Hungry for More

A series of recent moves by BlackRock Inc.—including bringing a top Saudi oil executive on its board—seem like steps likely to appease Republicans who have blasted the asset manager over what they say are woke ESG policies.

Don’t bet on it.

BlackRock’s appointment of Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser to its board—along with plans to give US investors more voting power at shareholder meetings and eschew the term ESG—aren’t going to stop those fighting against investment decisions tied to a company’s environment, social and governance policies, ESG consultants and lawyers say. In fact, they say, the moves embolden critics. ...