The number of women on boards has doubled under the leadership of a woman (29%), compared to a man-led board (16%) globally, according to the fifth edition of the Deloitte Women in the Boardroom study. These percentages are almost identical to the relationship between a female CEO and the number of women on the boards of directors of that company (29%), compared to a company led by a male CEO (15%).

Globally, 15% of all board positions are held by women, a modest 3% increase from 2015, according to Women in the Boardroom, a study that looks at the efforts of more than 60 countries to promote gender diversity. within the boards of directors. Women are still under represented in councils, despite the benefits of gender diversity in place.

In Romania, women occupy 10% of the seats on the boards of directors of large listed companies, 12% of the non-executive roles of the highest rated companies and 15% of the seats on the boards of supervisors of all companies listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

  • America’s boards of directors are not very diverse

In the United States, only 14% of board seats are held by women, an increase of only 2% over the 2015 edition. In Canada, the percentage of women on boards has increased to 18%, with 5% more than in 2015. In Latin America and South America, only 7% of board seats are held by women and only 2% of leadership positions on a board are held by women.

  • Progress in the EMEA region varies significantly

Romania is behind the other countries in the European Union with only 12% of non-executive positions held by women, compared to the EU average of 23%. Norway, the first country to introduce a diversity quota, has the highest percentage of women on boards (42%). There is no gender diversity quota in the UK, but 20% of council seats and 3% of board positions are held by women. The percentage of women on boards has increased to 28% in Italy, but the number of women chairing boards has fallen by 14% since 2015 and so far to 9%.

  • In Australia and Oceania, gender diversity on boards is growing

In Australia, the figures continue to improve as the percentage of women on boards increases to 20%, and 5% to management positions on boards. New Zealand has seen the largest increase since 2015, with 28% of council seats held by women.

  • Asia-Pacific lags behind other regions

With only 8% women on boards, gender diversity in some major Asian economies is modest compared to other global regions. Only a few Asia-Pacific countries have mandatory quotas or other solutions to this problem.