NWG, GSK, ITV, WTB, AV.: 5 FTSE 100 companies led by women

Highlights

• According to the FTSE Women Leaders Review, only 414 women held board positions in 2021 at the UK’s top listed companies, up from 374 in 2020.
• Women’s senior positions between 2018 and 2020 have increased by only 1% to 32%.

The UK’s top listed companies have made some progress on gender targets but reaching gender parity at senior leadership positions is still a distant dream with the frustratingly slow current rate.

According to the FTSE Women Leaders Review, there were just 414 women who held board positions in 2021 at the UK’s top listed companies, though the numbers were up from 374 in 2020. At the same time, only 13.5% of the executive director positions were held by women in 2021, a decline of 70 basis points from 14.2% in 2020.

The FTSE Women Leaders Review found that out of 10 only 4 of UK FTSE 100 board positions were held by women in 2021. Almost half (45.7%) of these positions were in non-executive positions, and only 29 women held executive positions.

In 2016, as a voluntary agreement committing businesses to gender diversity targets, the government’s women in finance charter was launched, and around 400 organisations have already signed it up. However, the research found that the women’s senior positions between 2018 and 2020 have increased by only 1% to 32% from 31% previously.

The gap is not only at higher levels but at employee levels as well. Datapoint shows that after the formulation of a new law that companies should reveal the difference between wages offered to males and female employees, eight out of 10 companies with over 250 staff still pay men more than women. The recent government data shows that women are being paid a 10.2% lower median hourly rate than their male counterparts.

Let us look at the five FTSE-listed companies that are led by the women CEOs:

NatWest Group Plc (LON: NWG)

NatWest Group Plc is a majority state-owned banking and insurance company. Its Chief Executive Officer since 1 November 2019 is Alison Rose.

NatWest Group Plc’s shares were trading at GBX 198.60, up by 2.98%, at 09:30 AM (GMT) on 8 March 2022. 

The market cap of the company stood at £21,644.87 million as of 8 March 2022. The company has delivered a return of 3.83% over the last one year as of date.

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Glaxosmithkline Plc (LON: GSK)

Glaxosmithkline Plc is engaged in developing, manufacturing, and commercialisation of vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and consumer healthcare products. Its Chief Executive Officer since April 2017 is Emma Walmsley.

Glaxosmithkline Plc’s shares were trading at GBX 1,490.40, up by 0.43%, at 09:33 AM (GMT) on 8 March 2022. 

The market cap of the company stood at £75,444.32 million as of 8 March 2022. The company has delivered a return of 19.59% over the last one year as of date.

ITV Plc (LON: ITV)

ITV Plc is a media organisation that holds 13 of the 15 regional television licences that make up of ITV network. Its Chief Executive Officer since January 2018 is Carolyn McCall. 

ITV Plc’s shares were trading at GBX 75.18, down by 0.11%, at 14:15 PM (GMT) on 8 March 2022. 

The market cap of the company stood at £2,956.26 million as of 8 March 2022.

Whitebread Plc (LON:WTB)

Whitebread Plc owns and operates hotels and restaurants. Its largest hotel brand includes Premier Inn, with over 800 hotels in the UK and over 80,000 rooms in other prime locations. Its Chief Executive Officer since January 2016 is Alison Brittain. 

Whitebread Plc’s shares were trading at GBX 2,485.00, up by 0.49%, at 09:37 AM (GMT) on 7 March 2022. 

The market cap of the company stood at £4,995.39 million as of 8 March 2022.

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Aviva Plc (LON: AV)

Aviva Plc is a multinational insurance company that offer savings, insurance and retirement products and services. It has operations in the UK, Ireland, and Canada. Its Chief Executive Officer since 6 July 2020 is Amanda Blanc. 

Aviva Plc’s shares were trading at GBX 387.00, up by 3.34%, at 09:39 AM (GMT) on 8 March 2022. 

The market cap of the company stood at £13,897.68 million as of 8 March 2022.