Though we’ve been having the conversation about the importance of diversity at the C-suite and board level for several years now and doing our part to rectify this problem, research continues to show that a lack of diversity plagues companies throughout the U.S. In the Wall Street Journal article below, statistics indicate that Hispanics in particular are substantially underrepresented on boards and in C-level positions. Furthermore, projections have been revised to reflect that it will take longer than originally thought for the amount of women to mirror the amount of men on boards.
For companies looking to compete and succeed in corporate America, they must embrace diversity as a winning business strategy. For help implementing this in your organization, contact us today.
Read the full article from the Wall Street Journal,
By ELIZABETH OLSON (May 16, 2016)
There are only nine Hispanics currently serving as chief executives of Fortune 500 companies, including Oscar Munoz, chief executive of United Airlines. Photo by: EARL WILSON / THE NEW YORK TIMES
Efforts to diversify America’s corporate boards with more minorities and women are still lagging, and Hispanics, in particular, are far behind other groups in being selected for directorships, according to an annual report on the board composition of large companies.
Over all, 399 new directors were selected for the top company boards last year. Hispanics claimed only 4 percent of those appointments, or 16 seats. The gap has widened over the last seven years, according to Heidrick & Struggles Board Monitor, which has tracked board appointments since 2009.
“The percentage of Hispanics appointed to such boards has not improved in recent years, even as they comprise 17 percent of the overall U.S. population,” said Bonnie W. Gwin, a co-managing partner of the executive recruitment company’s global C.E.O. and board practice.