25 Percent Group Launches Voluntary Code of Practice
Embargoed until 8.30am, Thursday 29 November 2012
25 Percent Group Launches Voluntary
Code of Practice for Board Recruitment
A voluntary code of practice aimed at increasing
female representation on boards was launched in Auckland
today by diversity advocates, the 25 Percent Group.
Drawn up in consultation with leading recruitment and executive search agencies, the Voluntary Code of Practice for Board Recruitment seeks to assist the appointment of suitably qualified women to board and senior executive positions.
The code draws on international research into the role of recruitment companies in supporting and promoting gender diversity.
The 2012 Gender
Diversity on Boards report by the Equality and
Human Rights Commission found recruitment and executive
search firms as key stakeholders in changing the landscape
of women on boards through their role in identifying
potential candidates for board positions.
Recruitment company signatories to the voluntary
code have made a commitment to embed the provisions in their
practice and pledged to ensure that when identifying
candidates for board positions at least 25 percent on long
lists will be women.
They have also committed to encouraging boards to include women among those short listed.
25 Percent Group Convenor and CEO of Goldman Sachs New Zealand, Andrew Barclay said the newly launched code challenges organisations to look more broadly when making board recruitment decisions.
“It does not make economic or commercial sense for us to continue to overlook the talents and experience of our total workforce when establishing boards or replacing board members.
“The Code aims to encourage boards to be more representative of the businesses, shareholders and consumers they serve. Greater diversity contributes to improved long term performance of individual companies and the economy in general,” Mr Barclay said.
A 2011 Goldman
Sachs economic research report estimated that closing the
gap between male and female employment rates would boost New
Zealand's GDP by 10 percent. The report identified the lack
of women in leadership, and on boards in particular, as an
area requiring urgent attention.
Figures from the
Ministry of Women’s Affairs show that women account for
14.75 percent of directorships of the country’s top 100
listed companies, up from 9.3 percent in 2010.
Minister for Women’s Affairs, Jo Goodhew, attending the launch of the Voluntary Code of Practice for Board Recruitment, applauded the initiative and said the Code was a positive step towards further advancing diversity in the boardroom.
ENDS