WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2014 — At its Fall Policy Conference, the Committee for Economic Development (CED) will launch “Every Other One: More Women on Corporate Boards,” an initiative to encourage boards of directors to replace every other retiring director with a woman.
Included at the launch is CED’s “Every Other One: More Women on Corporate Boards” report, detailing the economic imperative for gender diversity on corporate boards. As part of this initiative, CED will work with its Trustees, many of whom serve on the boards of Fortune 500 companies, to organize individual and small group meetings with members of board nominating committees. CED will facilitate these gatherings to raise awareness about gender diversity and its positive impact on the performance and competitiveness of companies in the global marketplace.
“For U.S. corporations to stay competitive, it’s essential that they utilize all available talent, but right now women hold under a fifth of Fortune 500 board seats,” said Debra Perry, Co-Chair of CED’s Women’s Economic Contribution Subcommittee and board member of Korn Ferry. “Companies strongly benefit from the diversity of thought and leadership that result from female-inclusive boards, and CED has put forward a superb plan to achieve that.”
The announcement will take place at a lunch event on women in corporate leadership at the Willard InterContinental Hotel. Opening remarks on the “Every Other One” initiative and report will be provided by CED’s Executive Vice President, Michael Petro, and panel moderator Beth Brooke-Marciniak of EY.
“Women play an unprecedented role in today’s economy, accounting for half the labor force and leading in degree attainment,” said Brooke-Marciniak, Co-Chair of CED’s Women’s Economic Contribution Subcommittee and Global Vice Chair of Public Policy of EY. “I’m pleased to work with CED in bringing the invaluable knowledge and impact of women to the highest echelon of businesses across the country.”
CED’s “Every Other One” report can be viewed at (www.ced.org/pdf/Every_Other_One_-_More_Women_on_Corporate_Boards.pdf), and a list of initial contributors to the “Every Other One” initiative can be viewed at (https://www.ced.org/pdf/Every_Other_One_initial_supporters.pdf).
CED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, business-led public policy organization that delivers well-researched analysis and reasoned solutions to our nation’s most critical issues. CED’s work centers on the pursuit of seven core principles: sustainable capitalism, long-term economic growth, efficient fiscal & regulatory policy, competitive & open markets, globally competitive workforce, equal economic opportunity, and non-partisanship in the nation’s interest. CED’s research falls under four issue areas: fiscal health, education, global competitiveness, and democratic institutions.
Learn more about CED online at www.ced.org, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.
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SOURCE Committee for Economic Development
