Food manufacturers back female directors
A number of appointments of female food industry bosses throughout 2013 reflected a wider trend suggested by the latest FTSE 100 figures that female representation on the boards of UK companies is increasing.
The latest statistics, revealed in October, showed that the UK is making progress in reaching its target, set by Lord Davies of Abersoch two years ago, of 25% of board positions being held by women by 2015.
19% of directors in FTSE100 companies are now female – up from 12.5% when Lord Davies initially reported in 2011 and 17.5% in May.
Maggie Timoney became the latest woman to lead a UK food or drink business when she took over as md of Heineken Ireland in October, succeeding David Forde.
She joins the likes of Mars UK and IGD president Fiona Dawson, Iglo Food Group chief operating officer Tania Howarth and Glanbia group md Siobhan Talbot at the helm of food or drink manufacturing businesses.
Click here to read all about these women, and others that hold places on the executive boards of food and drink firms, in our photogallery.
Secretary of state for Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable said: “Businesses are clearly still striving to get the right mix of talent around their boardroom table and we must not lose that momentum. This is about more talented women getting executive experience, so that they will not only advise, but run this country’s great companies."