Where next in the drive for investment trust board diversity?

Push for diversity of thought

Investment company board diversity has improved dramatically over the past decade, but remains the subject of much debate, with some executives arguing the sector’s representation drive could be moving faster.

The Skin in the Game report from Investec, published in June, showed that 34.5% of directorships are now held by women compared to 8% in 2010.  The number of female chairs has also increased to 19.8% compared to 3.8% in 2010. "Everyone is moving on, but some could move a bit faster," says Bea Hollond, chairwoman of the behemoth £5.5bn F&C Investment trust when discussing the diversity of investment company boards. Hollond recalls the time she first decided to join the financial services sector and was told "we don't take women fund managers". She says she felt "slightly despondent"...