Minimal increase in diversity at board level

Despite a 10% overall increase in non-executive directors, there has been
minimal increase in the diversity of the board in big UK companies, according to
Carol Arrowsmith, Deloitte head of remuneration.

She said the lack of women non-executive directors was a lack of concern. The
latest
Deloitte
board structure research found only a slight increase in the number of female
FTSE 350 executive board members – up from 3% to 4% – but no increase in the
number of female non-executives.

The research also found many
FTSE
350 boardrooms are failing to achieve the recommended 50:50 ratio of
executive to non-executive directors. Independent directors are making up less
than a half of boards at 29% of FTSE 250 companies and 11% of FTSE 100 firms.

The increased responsibilities of non-executive directors have had a
significant effect on fee levels which continue to rise at a higher rate than
before for these positions and are currently slightly higher than increases in
executive salaries. Total fees in the past year grew by 7.3% compared to 7.1%
last year.

Further reading:

Grappling with diversity

Female board members up 40%