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Gender Equality Stalls: FTSE 100 Sees No CEO Progress
24 Feb
Summary
- Average female FTSE 100 CEOs remained at nine last year.
- FTSE 350 firms missed voluntary 40% women in senior roles target.
- UK ranks second among G7 countries for women in the boardroom.
The number of female chief executives in the FTSE 100 has stalled, remaining at nine for the past year, mirroring the figure from 2024. This stagnation reflects an "achingly slow" pace of progress in gender equality at the highest levels of Britain's major businesses. Campaigners noted that key targets have been missed by blue-chip firms.
The FTSE 350 index, comprising mid-sized companies, did not achieve its 2021 voluntary goal of having 40% women in top executive positions by 2025. As of the review, women held 36% of these senior leadership roles. However, the FTSE 350 did meet its target for board representation, with 43% of board seats now held by women.
Vivienne Artz, chief executive of the FTSE Women Leaders Review, described the progress as "achingly slow," particularly for top roles like chief executive and chief financial officer. She emphasized the need to focus on the talent pipeline and ensure women gain experience in crucial revenue-generating positions.
While the FTSE 100 saw its female CEO numbers peak at 10 in 2023, the figure dropped back to nine. The report also highlighted that the UK ranked second among G7 countries for women in the boardroom, with 44% of FTSE 100 board seats held by women, trailing behind France's mandatory quota system.
