Gender diversity on boards strongly linked to companies’ success, says Credit Suisse Research Institute report
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The CS Gender 3000: Women in Senior Management
Author: Credit Suisse Research Institute
...[G]reater diversity in boards and management are empirically associated with higher returns on equity, higher price/book valuations and superior stock price performance...[N]ew findings emerge from this added management analysis – we find no evidence that female led companies reflect greater financial conservatism where leverage is concerned. Also, dividend payout ratios have been shown to be higher. Female CEOs have proven to be less acquisitive than men when assuming the leadership position. The analysis makes no claims to causality though the results are striking...[W]hat can drive further improvements? There has admittedly been progressive legislation in Europe, but little has happened in the US and diversity levels remain low in most of Asia. The report considers a number of the prevailing obstacles, specifically at mid-management and senior levels and suggests some policy initiatives that could support further progress...
Singapore tops Asian markets in share of women in chief executive positions, despite drop in female representation on boards
Author: Jacqueline Woo, Straits Times (Singapore)
“Women here still hit glass ceiling”, 28 September 2014
…[W]omen in Singapore are making some cracks in the glass ceiling, according to the latest Credit Suisse Research Institute report…At the…chief executive level…the Republic topped all Asian markets and was the third-highest globally…[The report] found that female representation on Singapore company boards dropped from 8.6 per cent in 2012 to 7.9 per cent last year…The share of women in chief executive positions here, on the other hand, was 15 per cent last year - significantly higher than the global average of 3.9 per cent…"The CS 3000 gives compelling evidence that gender diversity on boards and in senior management is strongly linked to higher returns on equity, better shareholder returns and stronger valuations," said Mr Giles Keating, deputy global chief information officer of private banking and wealth management at Credit Suisse...