29/11/2007

Flow of women executives through talent pipeline increases

The number of women on FTSE 100 executive committees has soared by 40% over the last year. The 2007 Female FTSE research by Cranfield School of Management also reveals that the number of female-held directorships has increased from 117 in 2006 to 123 this year, and that the proportion of women among new appointments has increased substantially over the last year, with 20% of new FTSE 100 director appointments going to women – the highest level since the first benchmarking report was published in 2000.

The number of women holding directorships has broken the 100 barrier for the first time with 100 women in 123 positions. In the Female FTSE Index, companies with the highest percentage of female board directors include first place Sainsbury’s (three female NEDS making up 30% of its board), closely followed by Astrazeneca, British Airways and ITV, all with three NEDS but slightly larger boards with women accounting for 27.3%. For further information, see www.cranfield.ac.uk.

During the month after the data was collected British American Tobacco appointed two new female directors taking its percentage of women on the board to 30%, which would put it equal first with Sainsbury.

While the proportion of female-held directorships is still low (11%), the report highlights how the composition and balance of FTSE 100 boards has changed since 2000. Both the number of executive directorships and total number of directorships are at their lowest levels for seven years, while the number of non-executive positions are at their highest level – one consequence of the Higgs Review designed to encourage boardroom diversity.

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