More women in FTSE 100 director roles, but still six all-male boards

The proportion of women on FTSE 100 boards has increased to 19%, but only 6.1% of executive directors are female.

The news comes from the biannual Lord David report, which was launched in 2011 and has laid out a target for FTSE 350 firms of achieving 25% female boards by 2015.

When the report was first published two-and-a-half years ago, there were only 12.5% female directors, compared with 19% now.

But there are concerns over the type of directorships women are being appointed for.

The research, compiled by Professional Boards Forum BoardWatch, found that the percentage of female non-executive directors has reached among 24% on FTSE 100 companies. But only 6.1% of executive positions are held by women.

The study says there will need to be 66 more women appointed as directors in FTSE 100 companies to meet Lord Davies’ target.

There are six companies in the FTSE 100 without any women on their boards, although this figure is down significantly on the 21 companies that had all-male boards in 2011.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “We have until 2015 to reach our target of 25% of women on the boards of listed companies which Lord Davies set us two years ago.

“With today’s encouraging figures, I am confident we can get over the finish line.

“But appointing more women as non-executive directors is not an end in itself. This is about more talented women getting executive experience, so that they will not only advise but run this country’s great companies. […]

“Appointing more women as non-executive directors is not an end in itself. This is about more talented women getting executive experience, so that they will not only advise, but run this country’s great companies.”

Among FTSE 250 companies, the proportion of women directors stands at 15%, and there are 51 all-male boards.

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