Partner Article

More female CEOs needed

A headhunting firm is urging more women to get into the boardroom, after figures showed that just under 14 percent of FTSE boardrooms are made up of female directors.

This information released in light of Lord Davies’ report on women in executive boards, which said that at least 25% of FTSE 100 board members should be women by 2015. Although women represent more than half of all university graduates, they are still under represented at board level.

Carmen Watson, Managing Director of Pertemps Recruitment Partnership, commented on the results, saying: “As far as ‘taking steps’ goes, the voluntary code does demonstrate a will to conform to Lord Davies’ report, and if the UK wishes to avoid the imposition of quotas this will certainly help.

“At the end of the day merit must be the overriding criteria and if the code assists in that process then it should be applauded.”

Now companies must make it clear how they intend to increase female presence at the top of their business, although quotas will not be enforced. Listed companies must now disclose how many women are on their boards, as well as explaining the recruitment process in annual reports.

Since the Cranfield School of Management released the results, FTSE 100 companies have recruited 23 women to their boards, 30% of the total appointments this year.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .