COMPANIES ON TRACK TO MEET BOARD AND LEADERSHIP TARGETS FOR 2022

ISEQ20 companies now have an average female representation of 32%, up from 18% in 2018 when Balance for Better Business (B4BB) was established - a Government sponsored, business led group whose aim it is to ensure that more women play a role at board level and in senior leadership teams.

The new figures from B4BB have highlighted the continued progress being achieved against the targets for female representation on boards and leadership teams of Ireland’s 39 listed companies.

The data, which was released to mark International Women’s Day this week, also shows that the boards of other listed companies have an average of 23% female representation and that 19 of the 39 listed boards have met the key representation level of 30%. Individual companies are also exceeding targets: four have passed 40% representation and two 50% representation of female board members. Crucially the current appointment rate of 38% for females at board levels will be key to ensuring the targets are reached.

Leadership teams are also on track to meet their targets, with ISEQ20 companies averaging 26% female representation and other listed companies achieving 21%, 1 percentage point off the target of 22%.

Appointment rates to leadership teams are on average lower than the board appointment rate at 29% overall, which emphasises the need for firms to have a continued and long-term focus on succession planning and pipeline development.