Europe 1 with AFP 3:48 p.m., November 18, 2021
According to a study, the proportion of women at the head of the world's largest groups is increasing.
Except in France, a country which is lagging far behind.
Unlike boards of directors, no law provides for the establishment of quotas in executive committees as well as in the position of CEO of the largest groups.
The share of women at the head of the world's largest listed groups remains low but is increasing, except in France which is lagging far behind, according to a study published Thursday by the firm Heidrick & Struggles.
>> READ ALSO -
Gender equality in business: "We need a boost from the State"
More women at the top of multinationals
"We have an increase in the number of women CEOs at the global level: we go to 13% in the first half of 2021 while we were at 5-6% in previous years," said Jennifer Flock, co-head of the diversity and inclusion practice. at Heidrick & Struggles, during a presentation of the study to the press. She added that France was "quite a lag compared to most other countries", with only one woman at the head of a CAC40 company, Engie's general manager Catherine MacGregor.
In total, the firm examined the paths of 1,095 executives at the head of listed companies with the largest market capitalizations.
In 2020, during the Covid crisis, "companies showed enormous conservatism in the choice of their CEOs (chief executive officer)" with fewer recruitments and choices marked by aversion to risk, explained Hervé Borensztejn , responsible for the firm's consulting activities.
“2021 is a year that allows us to return to the trend of previous years” with, however, an increase in internal promotions, he added.
>> READ ALSO -
Why women have been working for free since November 3
Despite the quotas, France late
In France, "we see a huge gap between the situation at the level of boards of directors and what we see at the level of CEOs and Comex (executive committees)," said Jennifer Flock. She recalled that "France is a leader with regard to the diversity of boards of directors following the Copé-Zimmmermann law" which imposes a quota of 40% of women in these bodies.
According to Jennifer Flock, the low representation of women at the head of large companies "is a situation that is not tenable, because there is now more and more pressure on these issues of diversity from women. boards of directors, investors, clients, employees, candidates ".
"With the arrival of the Rixain law, this pressure will increase even further" in a very tight market for the search for talent, she says.
MP Marie-Pierre Rixain's bill provides for the imposition of a quota of 30% of women in 2027 and 40% in 2030, but the planned perimeter is quite broad since it includes not only the members of the governing bodies , but also senior executives.