Merit is still the most important criterion in management-level recruitment, according to Carmen Watson, managing director of Pertemps Recruitment Partnership.

In response to the voluntary code of conduct issued on Friday (22 July) by a group of leading headhunting firms, Watson says: “At the end of the day merit must be the overriding criteria and if the code assists in that process then it should be applauded.”

The code of conduct was issued in response to the Lord Davies report on women on executive boards published last February.

“As far as ‘taking steps’ goes the voluntary code does demonstrate a will to conform to Lord Davies’ report and if the UK wishes to avoid the imposition of quotas this will certainly help,” she adds.

Watson points out that striving for 25% female representation in the FTSE 100 board members is “not just about diversity”. Although merit may be the overriding factor, “there is research from the US which clearly indicates there is a business case to have more women at top levels of management”, she says.