Women Scarce at the Top of European Companies
Only 8% of CEO positions at the largest listed companies in the EU28 are held by women, highlighting a stark gender imbalance in corporate leadership. Ireland, with no female CEOs in its 31 listed companies, stands out as a particularly concerning example.
This lack of diversity is exacerbated by the dominance of male-heavy industries like construction on the Irish exchange. While progress has been made in achieving gender equality at the board level, with female representation reaching 39%, the absence of female CEOs underscores the significant work remaining to shatter the glass ceiling.
The situation is not much better across the EU, with even large stock exchanges often having less than a handful of female CEOs. Even in progressive Scandinavia, female leadership remains scarce, with Sweden's main OMX Stockholm 30 index currently having only one female CEO among its 30 companies.
The picture in the US is only slightly better, with 10% female CEOs on the Fortune 500. While quotas have been set for improving board diversity globally, most do not specifically target the top job.
Despite these challenges, initiatives are underway to support and encourage a pipeline of strong female managers and founders. Government agencies like Ireland's Enterprise Ireland are actively focusing on promoting female leadership and entrepreneurship.
While the road to achieving gender equality in corporate leadership remains long, the increasing focus on supporting and empowering women in business offers hope for a more balanced and inclusive future.