Women on Boards: Lord Davies Sets New Target in Final Report

Lord Davies has published his final report on women on boards and has made further recommendations for improving the gender balance on boards.

In terms of progress to date, the report confirms that:

• At 1 October 2015, there were no all male boards in FTSE 100 companies;• At 1 October 2015, women held 26.1% of board positions in FTSE 100 companies, compared to 12.5% in February 2011;• There are still 15 all male boards in FTSE 250 companies; • Women hold 19.6% of board positions in FTSE 250 companies;• Only 9.6% of executive positions within the FTSE 100 are held by women.

Going froward, the report recommends:

• That the voluntary, business-led approach to tackling board inequality should continue for a further five years; • A target that, within the next five years, 33% of board directors in FTSE 350 companies should be women; • That stakeholders should work together to increase the number of women appointed to the roles of Chair, Senior Independent Director and Executive Director on FTSE 350 boards;• That all FTSE listed companies assess the gender balance on their boards and take prompt action to address any shortfall;• FTSE 350 companies should extend the best practice seen at board level to improve representation of women on the Executive Committee and the senior-most leadership positions; and• That an independent steering body is set up to support business in their efforts to improve gender equality, act as a catalyst for sustained progress and monitor and report on progress.

Lord Davies Report Improving the Gender Balance on British Boards can be viewed .