The number of women on FTSE 100 corporate boards has remained at the same level as in 2008.

Currently 113 women hold 131 FTSE 100 directorships compared to 834 men holding 947 directorships.
 
However, the 2009 Female FTSE report from Cranfield School of Management shows that the number of companies with female executive directors is down to 15 (from 16) and there has been a drop in the number of boards with multiple women directors to 37 (from 39). There was also a fall in the overall number of companies with women on boards resulting in a quarter of companies having male-only boards.
 
This year’s report also recorded a drop in the number of women holding key positions in FTSE 100 companies. While 2008 witnessed the highest number with five female CEOs and three regional CEOs, today there are only four female CEOs.
 
Minister for equality and women, Harriet Harman, says: “This report shows that we are moving in the right direction and there is still much more that needs to be done.  Businesses that run on the basis of an old boy network and do not draw on the talents of all the population will not be the ones that flourish and prosper in the 21st century.”

Professor Susan Vinnicombe OBE, co-author of the report, says: “This year’s report demonstrates unequivocally that we have a huge and growing pipeline of female talent to FTSE 100 corporate boards.  We support the proposal made earlier this year of a voluntary quota of 30% women on corporate boards over the next 10 years.”