Julia Wilson doubled the number of female finance directors at FTSE100 companies this week, after being promoted to the top finance role at private equity firm 3i.

Wilson (pictured), previously deputy group FD, was promoted this week, replacing Simon Ball who will step down in November. She joined 3i in January 2006 from Cable & Wireless where she was group director of corporate finance.

Her appointment highlights the lack of female FDs in the FTSE 100. The only other female FD in the index is Jann Brown at oil company Cairn Energy.

Mark Freebairn, head of the CFO practice at executive search agency Odgers Ray & Berndtson, said he was seeing more women being appointed to senior finance roles but said it would take time before this translated into more female FDs at FTSE 100 companies.

He denied claims that the lack of female FDs at top companies was because boards discriminated against female candidates. ‘I can’t think of any chief executive who would appoint an FD just because the candidate is a man,’ he said.

A report last week by the Equality and Human Rights Commission found women held fewer top posts than ten years ago in almost half of 25 categories in the UK workplace.