Diversity on boards is essential for success. Countless capable women candidates are being overlooked for the top role and it is time to change this.
This summer, Helen Pitcher OBE and some like-minded people started an initiative called "Accelerating Women Chairman in FTSE Board". The goal was to help headhunters, chairman and nominating committees to recognise the enormous pool of talented women who are ready to take on chairman roles.
The group was composed of Samantha Barber, Charlotte Valeur, Baroness Margaret McDonagh, Suzannne Baxter, Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith, Professor Sue Vinnicombe, Professor Stanislav Shekshnia (INSEAD) and Dina Medland. To read more about this group read our article "Job For The Girls".
The Initiative will be holding a series of round table discussions in the New Year with a goal of producing a Best Practice guide to share with chairmen, headhunters and nomination committees. The best practice guide will be a roadmap designed to help boards recruit more women to chairman roles.
Helen Pitcher OBE will also be presenting her findings at the INSEAD "Balance in Business" event on 19 March.
