Abstract:
FTSE 100 COMPANIES THE GOOD NEWS: After two years of slippage, there is evidence
that companies are again taking advantage of the diversity and talent that women
directors can bring to their boards, by appointing new women. 61 companies now
have women directors, up from 57 companies in 2001, but still not yet reaching
the post-election “mini-boom” year 1999 when 64 companies had female directors.
It is good to see that more companies have women executive directors, who now
hold 3% of all executive board seats. In fact, women executive director numbers
have increased by 50% since last year, up from 10 to 15. THE BAD NEWS: 88 of the
UK’s top 100 companies still have no women executive directors. Chairmen and
CEOs must take more responsibility for recruitment and development of their
corporate talent pool to include women and diverse groups, to improve decision-
making and bring variety and new voices into the boardroom. Indirectly, women
directors act as powerful role models to younger, more junior female man
