CBI responds to latest women on boards data

Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, said:

“It’s great to see FTSE firms continuing to make progress when it comes to diversity in the boardroom.  Women are joining boards in greater numbers than ever before, but the bottom line is despite good progress we are still not moving fast enough.  If companies are going to reach the Review’s 33% target by 2020, they must pick up the pace of progress.

“Much of the focus remains on non-executive roles in listed firms, not the day-to-day leaders of our biggest businesses. We need more women in top executive roles, as CEOs, Finance Directors, running business units and on executive committees. And frankly in 2018, there’s really no excuse for any all-male boards.

“With disruption and change all around us, business must not take its eye off the ball. We know that companies with diverse boards perform better than those without.  This halfway data shows how far we still have to go to ensure capable women progress from entry-level to senior management positions."