Breaking down barriers is key to more Women on Boards, says AER

Breaking down barriers is key to more Women on Boards, says AER

The Association of Executive Recruiters (AER), the REC’s specialist sector group for executive search and selection consultancies, has responded to the progress report on Lord Davies’s independent review into women on boards. The report reveals the percentage of women now holding FTSE 100 board directorships is 14.2 per cent, up from the December 2010 figure of 12.5 per cent.

Commenting on the report, David Winterburn, Chair of the AER described the key role that executive search firms can play in facilitating the promotion of women on to company boards.

“This latest report shows that progress is being made but that more needs to be done if we are to reach Lord Davies’ target that one-in-four members of a FTSE 100 board should be female by 2015. Feedback from our members suggests that whilst companies are convinced they need more women on boards, actually making this happen on the ground is a challenge. This is where search and selection professionals can help make a difference.

"Most businesses know the proven commercial benefits of having a more diverse board. However we need better mentoring support and other proactive measures if we are to dismantle residual barriers and diversify the pool of candidates for leading positions within UK firms. Executive recruiters have a key role to play by feeding into this debate at a strategic level and by engaging now with leading employers to start making a difference on a practical level. “

The AER will be hosting a roundtable meeting on this issue in December. Further details will be announced shortly.