UK: Gender Diversity on Boards - the Appointment Process and the Role of Executive Search Firms

Last year the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) commissioned the International Centre for Women Leaders at Cranfield University to examine the operation of the corporate board appointment process and the role of executive search firms. As part of this work, the EHRC has today published a research report titled Gender Diversity on Boards: The Appointment Process and the Role of Executive Search Firms: see here (pdf). An overview of the report's findings is available here. The report's authors conclude that the appointment of women to FTSE350 non-executive directorships is being held back by selection processes which ultimately favour candidates with similar characteristics to existing male dominated boards.