08/12/2004

Women under represented in top UK businesses

The annual survey by the Cranfield School of Management into the number of female directors at the UK’s top firms has shown that women are still significantly under represented.

The survey revealed that nearly a third of the FTSE 100 have male-only boards and the number of women executive directors remains unchanged from last year at 17.

Former director of CBI Wales Dr Elizabeth Haywood, Managing Director of executive search consultancy, kmc international, said: “People should realise that stagnant boardrooms do not generate good results and organisations must appreciate the value added contribution that a diverse senior management can make to business.”

In the last few years, kmc candidates were the first women appointed as Chair and CEO of several UK Research Councils and Vice Chancellor of a leading university, as well as to senior government department and company positions as both executives and non-executives.

According to the survey, FTSE 100 companies that follow best practice on corporate governance are far more likely to have women directors than those that do not.

“Research shows that organisations with women at the top enjoy improved performance, have better working practices and tend to be market leaders,” said Dr Haywood.

On the back of the survey results, Trade & Industry Secretary, Patricia Hewitt yesterday launched Building Better Boards, a guide to best practice in association with the Institute of Directors.

She was also expected to announce that government headhunters who recruit for nearly 4,000 vacancies each year will be required to present more diverse lists of candidates for consideration.

(SP/MB)

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