The percentage of women in FTSE 100 boards now stands at 38% and for FTSE 250 boards is 35%.  Both of these figures exceed the 33% target set by Hampton-Alexander.  However, there continues to be considerable variance across the boards. 21% of the FTSE 100 boards and 32% of FTSE 250 boards have yet to reach the 33% target.  The report also identifies that in contrast to the continuing progress of women in non-executive director roles, there has been no progress in executive roles across the FTSE 350. 

The key findings in the Cranfield report are:

FTSE 100:

• The percentage of women on FTSE 100 boards stands at 38%.
• 79 companies have now met the target of 33% women on their boards by the end of 2020.
• There were 15 more directors across the FTSE 100 boards compared to the prior year with a slight decrease in the number of executive directors and an increase in the number of non-executive directors.

FTSE 250:

• The progress of women on FTSE 250 boards parallels that of FTSE 100 boards.
• The percentage of women on FTSE 250 boards stands at 35%.
• 169 companies have now met the target of 33% women on their boards.
• There are only 47 women holding executive roles.
• Results were better in senior non-executive director roles where women accounted for 14% of Chair roles, 30% senior independent director roles and 37% were board committee chairs.  However the report indicates that 'there is still a long way to go'.

Click for:

• Press release (link to Cranfield School of management website)
• The Female FTSE Board Report 2021 (link to Cranfield School of Management website)