Targets Miss Point of Diversity

Lord Davies recently released his second annual progress report on women on boards, recommending that by 2015 boards of companies on the FTSE 100 should aim for at least 25 percent female representation. Melanie Wadsworth of Faegre Baker Daniels opined on the matter in an article appearing in The Lawyer on April 22, 2013. Wadsworth supported the idea of more women in the boardroom, but she also expressed reservations, saying that prematurely promoting women to fulfill board quotas would do a disservice to those who are there on merit. She goes on to say that diversity is not about quotas but rather ensuring that boards have a complementary and balanced skill set and all individuals feel able to express their views effectively. Wadsworth recommended that women be given equal opportunities and support throughout their careers to ensure a pipeline of women prepared to take up executive positions.