Alison Brittain
Chair

In the last few years women represented on FTSE 100 Boards has improved significantly. However, the same cannot be said of representation at senior executive level.

The single biggest issue and the one that needs our greatest attention is that of the pipeline of female executives. Sadly, this is more a trickle than a torrent. Without a healthy flow there is no hope of getting more senior female executives onto the boards and executive teams of British businesses. The issue is not a scarcity of talented, qualified women, but rather that they either fall back because it becomes too culturally or practically difficult to progress, or they are overlooked when it comes to appointing senior executive roles.

Companies need to take the lead in changing their culture and mindset around the way they recruit and develop women. It’s the responsibility of the company’s Board, CEO, headhunters and leadership team to encourage and enable a culture that provides aspiration, inspiration, support and opportunity for the women in their business to progress and reach the most senior positions.