25th November 2016
150 leading Irish businesses have become supporters of the 30% Club, which aims to reach 30% female gender balance in Irish business by 2020
Dr. Orlaigh Quinn, recently appointed Secretary General of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, has become the 150th supporter of the 30% Club Ireland, a movement which aims to reach a 30% female gender balance in Irish business boards and executive management level by 2020.
Business leaders from 150 of Ireland’s leading companies and business organisations across a diverse range of sectors including AIB, Arthur Cox, BNY Mellon, CPL, Davy, ESB, Facebook, FBD, IBEC, IBM, Irish Life, Kerry Group, Northern Trust and Vodafone have become supporters of the 30% Club since it launched in Ireland in 2014.
The 30% Club is a global movement of international chairmen and CEOs who are committed to better gender balance at all levels of their organisations through voluntary actions. The Irish chapter of the 30% Club was established with the support of founding Chairmen Nicky Hartery, CRH; Vivienne Jupp, CIE; Michael Buckley, KKR Alternative Investments & KKR Credit Advisers and formerly DCC plc; Lochlann Quinn, formerly AIB and ESB; Kieran McGowan, Business in the Community and formerly IDA; and Gary Kennedy, Greencore. The 30% Club in Ireland is led by Marie O’Connor, partner at PwC.
The movement is building support for gender balance at all levels from business leaders in public, private, state and multinational companies and other interested groups.
Commenting on the announcement of this support, Secretary General of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Dr. Orlaigh Quinn said: “I am delighted that I, along with my Department, can support the aims of the 30% Club. Valuing the contribution that women can make in the workplace is an important part of our society. As Secretary General of the Department, and a leader in the Civil Service, I want to ensure that we recognise and encourage all of our talent and provide opportunities to support women and encourage greater gender balance. The 30% Club is a key organisation which highlights the contribution women can make and I want my Department to play a part in highlighting the richness available in the workplace.
Carol Andrews of BNY Mellon, and co-founder of 30% Club Ireland, said that support from the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, which plays such a central role in Irish business, is particularly important.
Marie O’Connor, 30% Club Leader in Ireland said: “The stellar and growing list of leading businesses supporting 30% Club Ireland demonstrates that senior Irish business leaders are committed to accelerating gender balance through voluntary actions. They recognise that diversity at executive and senior management levels improves performance and innovation and supports talent development and retention. We continue to call on other business leaders to follow suit and work to achieve at least 30% female participation on Irish business boards and at executive level by 2020. Men and women need to work together to achieve real and sustainable change.”
The 30% Club was founded in the UK in 2010 by Helena Morrissey CBE, former CEO of Newton Investment Management and Chair of the Investment Association with the goal of seeing 30% of women on FTSE-100 boards by the end of 2015.
Since then, the proportion of female FTSE100 directors has risen from 12.5% to 27%. There are now no all-male FTSE100 boards, down from 21 when the 30% Club started.
The 30% Club has become an international, business-led approach focused on developing a pipeline of senior female talent. It is complementary to individual company efforts and existing organisations networking groups – adding to these through the visible commitment of senior business leaders.
For further information or to become a supporter of the 30% Club Ireland, visit www.30percentclub.org or contact carol.andrews@bnymellon.com.
ENDS
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