Fidelio is delighted to have been accredited by the Hampton-Alexander Review for the second year running for our contribution to increasing gender diversity on Boards and leadership teams in the category ‘Beyond FTSE350’. This reflects our successful track record in Search in the UK and internationally, as well as Fidelio’s acclaimed “A Seat at the Table” programme, which supports senior women to their first Board appointments
Hampton-Alexander Review – A Responsibility for Search
On Tuesday 13th November 2018, the Hampton-Alexander Review released its annual update, reporting on progress on increasing gender diversity on UK Boards to date, and exploring what more can be done to move the dial. The Review maintains its momentum and commitment to this cause, and is cascading the combined target of 33% female representation across Executive Committee and direct reports from the FTSE 350.
Half of all available appointments in the next two years – both Boards and the Combined Executive Committee and Direct Reports, need to go to women to achieve the 33% target.
Clearly, Board and Executive Search has a major role to play in supporting corporates to achieve this goal.
As such, the Review provides accreditation under the Enhanced Code of Conduct to Search firms with a proven track record in increasing Board diversity and supporting women to their first Board positions. Accreditation is performance based and acknowledges those firms “at the forefront of helping boards enhance their gender balance with the strongest of track records.”
Fidelio – Achieving Diversity in Search
Fidelio was delighted to be included in the small number of accredited Search firms this year and remains for the second year running a member of the ‘Beyond FTSE350’ category. This reflects our public company expertise and continued work with FTSE companies, as well as the breadth of Fidelio’s Search activity and engagement with:
- Leading quoted companies outside the UK – over 50% of our assignments are international
- Privately held companies
- Non-profit organisations
- Government and regulatory bodies
Fidelio has a longstanding commitment to achieving and delivering Board diversity through Search and consistently between 40% and 50% of our placements are female candidates.
“A Seat at the Table”
In addition, Fidelio has made a ground-breaking contribution to diversity through the “A Seat at the Table” Programme, which has a track record of supporting senior women to their first Board positions. We are committed to developing senior female executives and Directors, and the programme has a twofold aim of:
- Equipping senior women with the practical tools to enhance their effectiveness in their executive current roles, and to take on external Board positions
- Strengthening the pipeline of female CEOs, Chairs and Board Directors
We are pleased to report that ca. 35% of participants have moved to larger Executive roles and/or taken on external Board positions within 12 months of attending the “A Seat at the Table” Programme.
In addition, we are now seeing“A Seat at the Table” Alumnae strengthening the pipeline for female Chairs and Deputy Chairs.
The focus of the Programme is putting women in the driving seat of their own Board careers, including the critical career phase of holding major Executive roles in combination with the first Non-Executive roles, and focuses on 3 key takeaways for Board readiness:
- Direct learning from senior, experienced and respected Chairs, and what they expect from their Boards
- How Boards effectively interact with their stakeholders and shareholders
- Boards in action: effectiveness at the Boardroom table and handling crises
The seventh iteration of the “A Seat at the Table” Programme will be held at Leeds Castle, Kent on 27th – 28th March 2019.
Reaching the 33% Target (Women on the Leadership Team) by 2020
Fidelio remains deeply committed to playing our part in moving the dial on this critical issue as we continue to support our current and future UK clients in meeting the 33% target by 2020.
Fidelio also continues our international commitment and recently hosted in Frankfurt the third seminar supporting greater gender diversity in UK and German Boardrooms.
If you are seeking to increase the diversity of your Board and leadership team, please contact Fidelio for further details.