---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001628280-23-020885"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WSM"
cik: "0000719955"
company_name: "WILLIAMS SONOMA INC"
filed_at: "2023-06-05T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-14T07:41:47.295673+00:00"
event_type: "other_material"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.25
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.25
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Williams-Sonoma annual meeting elects directors, approves say-on-pay; bylaws amended

## Summary
- All seven director nominees elected; William Ready received 12.4M votes against vs 44.1M for.
- Advisory vote on executive compensation approved with 55.3M for, 1.1M against.
- Stockholders recommended annual say-on-pay frequency; company adopts one-year cycle.
- Ratification of Deloitte as auditor approved with 59.4M for, 1.1M against.
- Bylaws amended to clarify stockholder nomination procedures and to align with universal proxy rules.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001628280-23-020885
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WSM
- cik: 0000719955
- company_name: WILLIAMS SONOMA INC
- filed_at: 2023-06-05T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other_material
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.25
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.25
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.03, 5.07, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/719955/000162828023020885/0001628280-23-020885-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/719955/000162828023020885/wsm-20230531.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-23-020885
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-23-020885.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-23-020885.txt

## Key facts
- Governance Changes
  WILLIAMS SONOMA INC: Amended and restated bylaws to clarify stockholder nomination disclosure, adopt universal proxy rules, and make other minor clarifying changes (effective 2023-05-31).
  - Change: bylaw amendment
  - Effective: 2023-05-31
  source text: As part of a broader review of its governance practices, on May 31, 2023, the Board of Directors of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (the “Company”), acting upon the recommendation of the Nominations, Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Committee of the Board, amended and restated the Company’s amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/719955/000162828023020885/0001628280-23-020885-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  WILLIAMS SONOMA INC shareholders approved Ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm at the 2023-05-31 meeting.
  - Proposal: auditor ratification
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-05-31
  source text: Proposal 4: Ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending January 28, 2024: For Against Abstain 59,380,524 1,122,118 62,389 Proposal 4 was approved.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/719955/000162828023020885/0001628280-23-020885-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  WILLIAMS SONOMA INC shareholders approved Advisory vote on the frequency of holding an advisory vote to approve executive compensation at the 2023-05-31 meeting.
  - Proposal: say on pay frequency
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-05-31
  source text: Proposal 3 : Advisory vote on the frequency of holding an advisory vote to approve executive compensation: 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year Abstain Broker Non-Vote 55,873,714 36,539 540,506 60,690 4,053,582 Based on the votes set forth above, the stockholders recommended holding an advisory vote on the overall compensation of the Company's named executive officers every year.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/719955/000162828023020885/0001628280-23-020885-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  WILLIAMS SONOMA INC shareholders approved Advisory vote to approve executive compensation at the 2023-05-31 meeting.
  - Proposal: say on pay
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-05-31
  source text: Proposal 2: Advisory vote to approve executive compensation: For Against Abstain Broker Non-Vote 55,275,999 1,143,296 92,154 4,053,582 Proposal 2 was approved, on a non-binding advisory basis.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/719955/000162828023020885/0001628280-23-020885-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  WILLIAMS SONOMA INC shareholders approved Election of Board of Directors at the 2023-05-31 meeting.
  - Proposal: director election
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-05-31
  source text: Name of Director For Against Abstain Broker Non-Vote Laura Alber 56,283,497 150,441 77,511 4,053,582 Esi Eggleston Bracey 56,067,194 365,391 78,864 4,053,582 Scott Dahnke 56,062,002 370,774 78,673 4,053,582 Anne Finucane 56,289,954 143,674 77,821 4,053,582 Paula Pretlow 56,155,709 277,381 78,359 4,053,582 William Ready 44,080,753 12,351,416 79,280 4,053,582 Frits van Paasschen 56,025,178 406,736 79,535 4,053,582 All director nominees were duly elected.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/719955/000162828023020885/0001628280-23-020885-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.