Firms attacked over women on boards

IT WILL be 121 years before women count for 30% of executive directors in the FTSE 100 if the latest four-year run rate continues.

That is the prognosis offered by Royal & SunAlliance director Susan Hooper. She believes action is needed and wants to see 30% by 2008, reflecting the proportion of women in full-time work.

Hooper delivered her calculations, from data in an independent report, to a meeting this week of about 100 shocked senior managers from companies including BP, Shell, IBM, and BT organised by PricewaterhouseCoopers and consultancy Aurora.

They have put big business on the back foot and sparked Government ire on the day the House of Commons holds a debate on women's issues ahead of International Women's Day on Monday, with major contributions expected from Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt and Jacqui Smith, a minister responsible for women and company law.

Smith said: 'These shocking statistics show exactly why company boards need to look really seriously at their recruitment and diversity policies.'

Women accounted for only 17, or 3.7%, of executive directors in 2003, up from 13, or 2%, in 1999 according to a Cranfield School of Management study.

CBI director-general Digby Jones said: 'More clearly needs to be done, but targets and quotas are not the answer. Company strategies need to include mentoring, networking and career tracking to help more women develop their careers and reach their full potential.'