Women make up the majority of FTSE non-execs

The majority of independent directors in Britain’s public companies are women, for the first time. A study by headhunting firm Spencer Stuart has found that the FTSE’s biggest 150 companies now employ 442 female non-executive directors, compared with 422 men. The gender balance has flipped thanks to a hiring spree in the year to April, with 52% of newly appointed directors being women. However, across the board, women make up just 36% of directors, including chairs and executive directors. Still, it is better than the 24% in 2016 and just 12% a decade ago. The Times (£)