Executive search firms accredited in latest Women on Boards report

Executive search firms have achieved accreditation under an enhanced voluntary Code of Conduct recognising search firms that have helped UK company boards improve gender balance.
Wed, 25 Mar 2015Executive search firms have achieved accreditation under an enhanced voluntary Code of Conduct recognising search firms that have helped UK company boards improve gender balance.

The latest Women on Boards Davies Annual Report 2015, published today (25 March), reveals 14 executive search firms have achieved accreditation to an enhanced code of conduct that commits search firms to a more qualitative as well as output-based approach to gender balance on boards.

Executive search firms introduced the enhanced Code in September last year, following experienced HR executive Charlotte Sweeney’s review of the original voluntary code of conduct for executive search firms in March last year.

The original Code, introduced in 2011, set out seven key principles of best practice for search firms to follow, ranging from action when accepting a boardroom brief through to induction. The Code also covered succession planning over the medium term, the setting of diversity goals, defining the client brief to balance experience with relevant skills, the value of diverse long lists and support during the selection process.

Accredited firms to the enhanced code over the past 12 months have to have:

  • at least 33% of their FTSE 350 board appointments have been awarded to women
  • supported the appointment of at least four women to FTSE 350 boards
  • a proven record of helping women to achieve their first board appointment.

The nine accredited firms working with the FTSE 350 found to have demonstrated the criteria were:

Egon Zehnder
Inzito
JCA Group
MWM Consulting
Odgers Berndtson
Ridgeway Partners
Russell Reynolds Associates
Spencer Stuart
The Zygos Partnership

An additional category of accreditation has also been developed to recognise firms working with boards outside the FTSE 350, with small cap, private companies, mutual, or not for profit and government organisations.

The eight accredited executive search firms that work with firms outside the FTSE 350 were:

Green Park
Harvey Nash
Inzito
JCA Group
Norman Broadbent
Ridgeway Partners
Sapphire Partners
Warren Partners

Three executive search firms appear in both lists, making a total of 14.

This morning’s report shows female representation on UK boards has almost doubled to 23.5% in the last four years.

  • Coinciding with the publication of the report is the announcement by career transition specialist Working Transitions that its chief executive Lynne Hardman has been appointed to the global board of Career Partners International at its annual conference in Miami.

Career Partners International is a global network of individual outplacement and talent management providers.

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