Gender diversification on boards was a prominent issue in 2018 and shareholders had never been more explicit in their expectations of companies. The CGLytics Review of Diversity in the Boardroom of S&P 500 Companies reveals the progress made by companies to improve female board representation and discusses new ways for identifying top candidates using new methods and tools.

Through research on the appointments and departures of S&P 500 company directors between 2017 and 2018, we can see evidence that companies are actively trying to improve gender diversity on boards. This is likely the result of investors pushing for greater female representation, along with media and legislators.

While overall female representation only grew by 1%, the following three data points demonstrate how S&P 500 companies are progressing:

1. One third of new board appointments in 2018 were women

One of the most encouraging changes we saw in 2018 was the increase in the percentage of new appointments that were women. 33% of new appointments were female, up 25% from the previous year. And of the 60 new appointments under the age of 50, more than half of these were women, demonstrating that companies are looking at younger female leaders when making their selection.

2. Telecommunications Services have the highest representation of women on boards

Almost all industries saw an improvement in gender diversity of their boards between 2017 and 2018. The financial sector showed the greatest improvement, with female appointments up by 2 percent. While Telecommunication Services had a three-percent decrease in female representation in 2018, the industry still shows the largest representation of women on boards, at 28%.

Gender diversification on boards was a prominent issue in 2018 and shareholders had never been more explicit in their expectations of companies.

A CGLytics report on diversity in the boardrooms of S&P 500 companies reveals that some progress has been made on an issue that was very prominent in 2018. Companies have improved female board representation – but at a much slower rate than is needed to meet targets set by some proxy advisers and new legislation.

In the past 12 months, the emphasis on gender diversity in the boardroom has never been greater. Demands from not only the media but also shareholders, investors, proxy advisers and governing bodies, as well as campaigns such as the Fearless Girl, have made all companies, regardless of industry, sit up and take notice.

There are, of course, many benefits to improving boardroom gender diversity that go far beyond fresh perspectives and improved profitability. But in order to build an effective board that meets current diversity standards, nomination and governance committees need to find new ways to recruit the right – and best – female candidates to fill their board.

Appointments and departures of S&P 500 company directors between 2017 and 2018 are evidence that companies are actively trying to improve gender diversity on boards. While overall female representation grew by only 1 percentage point, there are some data points that demonstrate how S&P 500 companies are progressing.

1. One third of new board appointments in 2018 were women 

One of the most encouraging changes in 2018 was the increase in the percentage of female appointments to boards. Thirty-three percent of new appointments were female, up from 25 percent from the previous year. Of the 60 new appointments under the age of 50, more than half were women, demonstrating that companies are recruiting younger female leaders. In tandem with gender, diversity of age should also not be overlooked as our findings reveal a positive correlation between the number of younger directors on S&P 500 boards and one-year company total shareholder return

2. Telecommunications services have the highest representation of women on boards

Almost all industries saw an improvement in gender diversity of their boards between 2017 and 2018. The financial sector showed the greatest improvement, with female appointments up by 2 percentage points. While telecommunication services saw a 3 percentage-point fall in female representation in 2018, the industry still shows the largest representation of women on boards, at 28 percent.