The latest Cranfield Female FTSE report shows that the proportion of women on FTSE-100 boards has jumped to 15.6% from 12.5% a year ago…There is increasing agreement that diversity at…top…level in terms of skills, gender and nationality is a key factor in…quality and performance…[T]he UK's Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has made changes to the UK Corporate Governance Code which reflect the view that gender diversity strengthens board effectiveness…The new provisions…will apply...after 1 October 2012…Investors are looking for companies to diversify…and as large shareholders they have the power to effect change…[O]ne practical suggestion…was that shareholders should abstain on, or vote against, the re-election of chairmen of businesses where progress is not being made…[I]f companies fail to address the issue, legislation and the imposition of quotas in the UK…are a strong possibility...[refers to: BlackRock, Legal & General Investment Management]