Women are joining US corporate boards at an increasing rate: 40% of current female directors joined their boards in the last five years

NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- New research about women on US corporate boards shows that women are joining boards at a higher rate and that boards that already have at least one female director are most likely to add more. Of the more than 1,800 directorships currently held by women, nearly 40% joined their respective boards in the last five years. These are welcome trends, as research indicates that companies with more women on their boards outperform those with fewer or no female directors. And yet, to be globally competitive and strengthen board performance and effectiveness, US companies must do a better job of prioritizing board diversity, including putting women in the boardroom. Getting on Board, Women join boards at higher rates, though progress comes slowly, a new report from Ernst & Young LLP, reviews the changes in gender diversity on US corporate boards from 2006 to 2012, looks at the backgrounds and qualifications of female directors and examines the roles women have once they join boards.

"Board quality is strengthened when directors have a diversity of skill sets, expertise, experience and viewpoints that inform strategy development discussions and board oversight processes," said Allie Rutherford, Associate Director of the Corporate Governance Group at Ernst & Young LLP.  "Many boards that have recruited female directors recognize the value and impact that diversity can have on board thinking and function."

Key findings of the report include:

Change has been incremental. Comparing the percentage of board seats filled by women at S&P 1500 companies in 2012 with those from 2006 shows only a three percentage point increase – from 11% to 14% – over six years. While there are fewer companies with no female directors on their boards today than just a few years ago, this change has occurred at a sluggish pace.

Greatest increases in gender diversity occurred among already diverse boards. Companies with women already on their boards were more likely to add another female to the mix: over 30% of companies added at least one female director to their boards since 2006, and, of those, about 60% already had at least one woman serving.

Companies are diversifying board members' professional backgrounds. An in depth analysis of the backgrounds of women joining boards over the past two years shows that boards are not limiting recruitment to former or sitting CEOs. Although current and former public company executives represent the largest professional background category, 80% of these are held by women who served in executive positions other than CEO.

Female representation in leadership positions and on key board committees remains low overall. There's still more work to be done, as less than 6% of independent board leadership roles are held by women and women hold less than 16% of all positions on key committees (audit, compensation, nominating).

Boards need to be prepared to discuss their composition with shareholders. Some investors are engaging or intend to engage companies that do not have women on their boards through dialogue, letter writing, and shareholder proposals.

For more information, to access Getting on Board, Women join boards at higher rates, though progress comes slowly and to see related reports, visit http://www.ey.com/governance.

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Lauren A. Condoluci
Ernst & Young LLP
Public Relations
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SOURCE Ernst & Young LLP