Breaking the glass ceiling

More women than ever are breaking through the glass ceiling to take powerful positions in British business.

The advance of a new generation of female high-fliers is revealed today with the publication of the bi-annual list of Britain's Top 50 Most Powerful Women.

But there is still only one female chief executive among the top 100 companies. Pearson's Texan boss, Dame Marjorie Scardino, 57, "the first lady of the Footsie", tops the list for the fourth year running.

A third of FTSE companies have no female directors at all. Women form 45 per cent of the British workforce, but still hold only six per cent of directorships despite evidence that companies with them on the board do better business than all-male rivals. Nevertheless, Matthew Gwyther, editor of Management Today, said: "Every time we publish the list the quality of women in the 50 goes up and, as a result, some remarkable women have dropped out."

Those include Harry Potter author JK Rowling, 38, and "Superwoman" Nicola Horlick, 43, now unemployed.

Also disappearing from the list is Judy Boynton, 49, former financial director of Shell. Cherie Booth, 49, slips from second place to eighth - with Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt, 55, taking her place in the runner-up spot. Behind her, coming straight in at number three, is Rachel Lomax, 58, deputy governor of the Bank of England. Also rising are Clara Furse, 46, first female chair of the London Stock Exchange, the BBC's first female director of television, Jana Bennett, 48, and Burberry's American boss Rose Marie Bravo, 53.

Other newcomers include Argos chief Sara Weller, who made Jamie Oliver the face of Sainsbury's in her previous role, BP executive Vivienne Cox, Monsoon boss Rose Foster and Linda Bennett, founder of LK Bennett.

The list was compiled from nominations by commentators, academics, headhunters and professional bodies. Mr Gwyther said: "It is becoming more widely accepted that women have huge talents in business."