Women Directors on Top UK Boards

Abstract

Research suggests that more diversity in board membership could improve overall performance. This paper considers the business case for increased numbers of female directors, and the lack of female representation on UK FTSE 100 company boards in 1999 and 2000. It also offers a comparison to US data. In 1999, almost twothirds of FTSE 100 companies had at least one female director, but numbers had dropped by July 2000 from 64 per cent to 58 per cent, paralleling the levellingoff at top level reported in North America. More firms having female directors are to be found amongst those with the highest turnover, profit and number of employees in the FTSE 100, again paralleling the findings from the US