Top 3 FTSE 250 companies led by women CEOs

Highlights

• The percentage of women holding board positions at the UK FTSE 100 level has gone up from 12.5% a decade ago to 40% at present.
• The UK has bypassed countries like Norway and reached the second position globally in terms of women’s representation in its top 100 companies.

 

The representation of women in senior roles across the UK businesses is increasing consistently and thus further progress is being made on achieving the gender equality targets. According to a report published by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy recently in February 2022, the UK is at the second position globally in terms of board representation of women at the FTSE 100 level.

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As per the data published in the report, women are now holding around 40% of the board positions at the FTSE 100 level, while around a decade ago, this figure just stood at about 12.5%. Throughout 2021, the representation of women on the boards of UK businesses has increased, with the FTSE 100, FTSE 250, and FTSE 350 having 39.1%, 36.8%, and 37.6% of women’s representation, respectively.

Due to the robust business-led approach followed by the UK Government, which focuses on gender equality, the UK has been able to successfully bypass countries like Norway and jump from the fifth position to the second position globally in terms of women’s representation in the top 100 companies. Women leaders are gradually taking over a vast range of businesses and this remarkable progress is highly appreciated by all. However, there’s still a long way to go for gender balancing.

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Currently, the global market sentiment is quite sour due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war along with rising inflationary pressure, and thus most companies listed on the London Stock Exchange are suffering too.

Here are 3 FTSE 250-listed companies with women in executive roles that you may add to your portfolio.

Future plc (LON: FUTR)

The CEO of the UK-based media company, Future plc, is Zillah Byng-Thorne. The current market cap of the company stands at £2,773.32 million as of 7 March 2022. Future plc’s shares closed at GBX 2,270.00, down by 1.13%, on 7 March 2022.

Future has performed well and has provided a return of 29.65% to its shareholders over the last one year as of 7 March, however, its performance has gone down this year with its year-to-date return standing at -40.68%.

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Grainger plc (LON: GRI)

The CEO of the UK-based residential property firm, Grainger plc, is Helen Gordon. The current market cap of the company stands at £2,000.05 million as of 7 March 2022. Grainger plc’s shares closed at GBX 273.20, up by 1.26%, on 7 March 2022.

Grainger’s performance has deteriorated lately, and it has given a return of just 0.07% to its shareholders over the last one year as of 7 March, with its year-to-date return standing at -14.22%.

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Direct Line Insurance Group plc (LON: DLG)

The CEO of the UK-based insurance firm, Direct Line Insurance Group plc, is Penny James. The current market cap of the company stands at £3,465.18 million as of 7 March 2022. Direct Line Insurance Group plc’s shares closed trading at GBX 261.10, up by 0.27%, on 7 March 2022.

Direct Line Insurance Group’s performance has gone down over the year with its one-year standing at -18.23% as of 7 March 2022, and its year-to-date return standing at -6.13%.