Diageo Named as FTSE100 Leader for Representation of Women in Business
LONDON, 25 March 2015 /3BL Media/ - Diageo plc, a world leader in beverage alcohol, has been named as joint leader of the FTSE 100 companies for female representation at board level for the second year running by the 2015 Cranfield Female FTSE Board Report.
The percentage of women on Diageo’s board stands at 45.45%, with five female members on the board of 11. A sign of strength of Diageo’s commitment to gender diversity, this far exceeds the FTSE average of 23.5%, and goes further than the target set by the Davies review, which set out to achieve 25% of women serving on the boards of FTSE 100 companies by 2015. This gender balance is also reflected in Diageo’s Executive Committee which has 40% female representation with 6 women out of 15 committee members.
Leanne Wood, HR Director at Diageo said of the report, “I am delighted that Diageo is ranked top of the FTSE once again for representation of women in business. We believe that the companies who achieve the most in global business will be those with the most diverse leadership teams - encouraging gender diversity gives us a competitive advantage.
“But our commitment to diversity is not just confined to gender or to the boardroom. We understand and celebrate the difference in people and have a core belief that every one of our employees has potential. Through our numerous employee networks, mid-career and leadership development programmes and strong culture of mentorship we are dedicated to supporting a flow of talented people, both male and female, through our business, enabling them to flourish and lead the way for Diageo”
Diageo also helps support gender diversity in the communities where it works through a number of programmes designed to support women’s empowerment. Plan W, a Diageo progamme which aims to empower women through learning has to date provided skills training to over 90,000 women across 15 countries in Asia Pacific, indirectly impacting over 450,000 family and community members. Other programmes, such as Learning for Life, which provides hospitality skills training to young adults; and Water of Life which provides access to fresh water and sanitation solutions, both have a disproportionately positive impact on women in the communities in which the company operates.
About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness. Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.
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