Objectively applying the 234 transparency criteria to the five disclosure documents we track during our “Transparency Awards” process, Ford Motor Company came up big as the winner this year of “Most Improved.” Here’s their 2024 proxy statement; the 2023 Form 10-K; and the 2024 Integrated Sustainability and Financial Report.
Bearing in mind again that the criteria are objectively applied, here are five reasons – among many others – why the company’s overall transparency ranking improved:
- Ford made quite a leap in the Overall Transparency rankings, ranked 14th overall in 2024 and 130th in 2023, jumping 116 places. This jump can be largely attributed to higher proxy statement and ESG report scores.
- The improvement in their proxy was partially due to a new introductory section, which includes this “About Ford” page which includes a lot of key information:
3. The proxy also includes a CD&A reorganization and content update, including this “CD&A Glossary”:
4. There is excellent navigability throughout the sustainability report, with banner links across the top of each page and mini-table of contents on each section divider page.
5. The “Sustainability at Ford” section on page 11 in the sustainability report provides an overview of updated materiality methodology and it also notes that the company is beginning to incorporate elements of double materiality as part of the company’s transition to CSRD reporting. This section also includes a detailed goals/progress tracker that is six pages long – here is part of that:
