More and more women are earning their place at the top table of British business
A new survey reveals that more and more women are earning their place at the top table of British business. Yet, in a quarter of all companies female directors are entirely missing. According to the Cranfield School of Management’s Female FTSE report, the number of women holding directorships at FTSE 100 companies reached three figures for the first time with 100 women sharing 123 positions between them. The total number of female directorships counts 11% and there are still only three companies with female chief executives (Drax, Pearson and Anglo American).
However in 2007 the situation has slightly improved: One in five of all new board appointments were female – this may not sound a lot, but it’s the highest percentage since the Cranfield School of Management started conducting the survey in 2000. Sainsbury’s and British American Tobacco are leading the way (30% of their board members are women), closely followed by AstraZeneca, British Airways and ITV. There is another positive development to be noticed: it appears that more women are in the talent pipeline just below board level, which promises well for future appointments. The report states this progress is due to some prominent business leaders championing the cause of gender diversity. For companies, increasing the proportion of female directors is more than just an act to achieve equality; it will also give them access to a broader array of skills and send out a positive message to those lower down in the chain.
