"HKEX’s first woman CEO says Hong Kong’s exchange could name and shame listed companies that stick with single-gender boards"

Bonnie Chan was appointed as HKEX’s CEO on March 1...Chan is the bourse operator’s first woman CEO...Her ascension to the top job comes as the company is pushing for better gender representation at public companies.

In 2022, HKEX mandated that all listed companies must stop having single-gender boards by the end of 2024. Candidates for new listings must also have at least one woman director.

“When we introduced that rule, the number was standing at around 800 companies with same gender boards. That was about a year ago. By now the number is slightly below 500,” Chan said. She added that the number will drop even further as companies move into annual general meeting season in April and May.

HKEX has yet to decide how to punish companies that have not complied with the exchange’s directive to diversify their board by the end of the year, Chan said. At the very least, there could be some “naming and shaming,” which could dissuade big investment funds that now focus on policies such as diversity.

Hong Kong is behind other financial hubs when it comes to gender diversity on corporate boards...