CORPORATE FINANCE
WHY WE NEED MORE
FEMALE CFOs
( AND HOW TO REACH THAT GOAL )
Four female global financial experts weigh in on why there are so few female CFOs , and what organisations can do to redress the executive gender imbalance
WRITTEN BY : KATE BIRCH
The number of women in CFO positions in Fortune 500 companies reached a record high late last year , hitting 90 , up from 65 just a few years ago . It ’ s not surprising given the increased focus in recent years on C-suite and board parity by investors such as Blackrock , as well as other institutions including the Nasdaq , which recently stated that companies listed on its US exchange will need to have a minimum of two non-white or female Board members . And if they do not , they must publicise the reasons as to why .
The picture is similar in the UK . According to Julia van den Bosch Wazen , CFO Practice consultant at Odgers Berndtson , The Financial Conduct Authority in the UK is now looking to the London Stock Exchange listings framework as to whether similar measures ought to be implemented , while for City firms , “ there are already ongoing discussions about potentially using wider FCA powers , such as denying regulatory approves to drive diversity on Boards ”.
37 June 2021