10 Dec 19

Gender targets extended to leadership teams and private companies Balance for Better Business report reveals heartening progress made; serious gender imbalance persists

• ISEQ 20 companies achieve 2020 interim target of at least 25% female directors
• Virtually no progress made among the other listed companies
• No change made to all-male boards listed on Euronext Dublin
• Gap between Ireland and other EU member states closing, but Ireland remains 17th

00.01 Wednesday 11 December 2019 – Balance for Better Business today launches its second report reiterating its call for Irish companies to rapidly address the low levels of female representation on their Boards and outlining new targets for senior leadership teams of listed companies, as well as the Boards and leadership teams of large Irish-owned private companies.

The latest report from the Government established initiative tasked with examining the gender mix at the top of Irish business reveals that while heartening progress is being made, a serious gender imbalance persists at the top level of businesses in Ireland.

According to the latest report, ISEQ 20 companies reached 25.3% female directors by 1 September 2019, achieving the interim target (of 25%) set for the end of 2020. However, virtually no progress has been made among the other listed companies (12.1% on 1 March to 12.4% on 1 September).

Meanwhile, despite a target of no all-male boards listed on Euronext Dublin by the end of 2019 set in May, no change was made by 1 September.

Separately, the Balance for Better Business report extends its analysis and target-setting to the leadership teams of listed businesses and to the boards and leadership teams of large private companies.

Commenting as the report was launched, Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration, David Stanton, T.D., said: “I am pleased to see that progress is being made but the fact remains that serious gender imbalance persists at the top level of businesses in Ireland. It is heartening to see that the percentage of women on Irish publicly listed Boards has increased overall, but listed companies outside the ISEQ 20 must move swiftly to address the deficit. Likewise, the days of all-male boards must now come to an end. I welcome the fact that Balance for Better Business is extending its analysis to leadership teams as gender-balanced management is needed to realise the full business benefits and achieve real cultural change.”

Gary Kennedy, Co-Chair, Balance for Better Business, said: “It is clear that better gender balance on boards and executive teams leads to improved business outcomes and performance, including profitability and return on equity. This is driven by the more effective use of the entire talent pool, diversity of thinking and innovation, enhanced responsiveness to consumer requirements and improved governance. All businesses should actively adopt a targeted and planned approach, reflecting their strategic objectives and organisational structures.”

Brid Horan, Co-Chair, Balance for Better Business, said: “If Ireland is to continue to succeed as a modern, outward-looking European country, we need to address the challenges and opportunities of moving to gender-balanced leadership. While recent improvements have narrowed the gap between Ireland and the EU average at board level, we continue to be ranked 17 of the EU-28. Balance for Better Business is calling for genuine change and collaborating with those working to support female participation on boards and in executive leadership. It is time to fully utilise the talents, education and experience of all our people.”

Boards of Companies listed on Euronext Dublin

Since the first Balance for Better Business report, the overall percentage of women on Irish publicly listed Boards has increased from 16.4% to 19.1% (based on 1 March and 1 September 2019 data), a further increase from 14% a year earlier.

The new report reveals that, on average, ISEQ 20 companies reached 25.3% female directors by 1 September 2019, achieving the Balance for Better Business interim target (of 25%) set for the end of 2020. However, the report also discloses that virtually no progress has been made among the other listed companies (12.1% on 1 March to 12.4% on 1 September).

Similarly, the report notes that despite a target of no all-male boards listed on Euronext Dublin by the end of 2019 set in May, no change was made by 1 September (Datalex plc appointed a female director in October). Balance for Better Business has re-iterated their call for an immediate end to all-male boards.

Leadership Teams of Companies listed on Euronext Dublin

In its second report, Balance for Better Business extends its analysis to leadership teams. Currently, over one-third of listed companies have no woman on their leadership team – some one in five ISEQ 20 companies, and almost half of other listed companies. Gender balance at executive leadership team level is needed to realise the full business benefits and achieve real cultural change. Increasing the number of women on boards could be seen as window-dressing if not accompanied by change at executive level.

New targets set by the group mean that by the end of 2023, the overall average proportion of women on leadership teams in ISEQ 20 companies should be at least 30% (currently 16.9%) and 25% for other listed companies (currently 14.6%).

Private Companies

The new report also extends the group’s focus to private companies. While analysis and monitoring in this sector is constrained by limited data availability, Central Statistics Office analysis from early 2019 indicates that among Irish-owned private companies, 17.1% of board directors are female. Balance for Better Business sets a target of 30% for these boards by 2023, with interim yearly milestones.

About Balance for Better Business

Balance for Better Business, which was launched by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar T.D. in July 2018, is tasked with examining the gender mix within the governance and senior management of companies in Ireland and the issues which arise in connection with the appointment of company directors and senior management.

Co-chaired by Brid Horan and Gary Kennedy, the Balance for Better Business Review Group is supported by the Department of Justice & Equality and comprises senior figures in Irish business and the public service: Carol Andrews (30% Club and BNY Mellon), Mark FitzGerald (Sherry FitzGerald), Aongus Hegarty (Dell), Danny McCoy (Ibec), Martin Shanahan (IDA), Julie Sinnamon (Enterprise Ireland), Fiona Tierney (eir) and Dr Orlaigh Quinn (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation). The Programme Director is Anne-Marie Taylor.

For further information or for interviews, please contact:

Grace Cooney / Cathal Barry
086 153 6886 / 087 227 9281 / 01 260 5000
[email protected] / [email protected]