English - Colgate

We are fortunate to have a group of outstanding individuals serving on the Company’s Boardof Directors, providing advice, guidance and leadership that is vital to our continuing success.With their collective background in business, education and public service, internationalexperience, educational achievement, moral and ethical character, and diversity, our Board ofDirectors provides effective oversight of the Company’s business.WE HAVE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT IS INDEPENDENT, EXPERIENCEDAND DIVERSE.Independence promotes integrity and accountability. It is Colgate’s policy to have a Board of Directorscomprised primarily of outside independent directors. All directors who serve on the committees of theBoard that oversee audit, compensation and governance matters are independent. There are no interlockingdirectorships, and it is the Company’s policy that none of the independent directors receive any consulting,legal or any other non-director fees from the Company.WE PROMOTE DIRECT AND OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD.Both inside and outside the boardroom, Colgate’s directors have frequent and direct contact with theCompany’s management. Key senior managers regularly join the directors during Board meetings andmore informal sessions, and together they actively participate in candid discussions of various businessissues. Between scheduled board meetings, directors are invited to, and often do, contact senior managerswith questions and suggestions. The resulting atmosphere of openness and candor reflects Colgate’soverall corporate culture and helps the Board play an active role in the development and guidance of theCompany’s business strategy.WE ARE COMMITTED TO EXCELLENT CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.Colgate’s Board has been a leader in supporting corporate governance initiatives. One of the first among itspeers to formally adopt a code of conduct governing all business dealings and to develop charters for theBoard and its committees, Colgate has put in place excellent corporate governance practices over the last twodecades, which are continuously improved and refined. Colgate’s Board is at the center of these policies andbelieves strongly that good corporate governance inspires and greatly aids our long-term business success.For a more detailed discussion of Colgate’s corporate governance program, please see the “Colgate-Palmolive Company Board Guidelines on Significant Corporate Governance Issues,” which are available onthe Company’s website.14 CODE OF CONDUCT