How new EU law aims to improve gender diversity on corporate boards

On Oct. 17, the Council of the EU approved a law to improve gender balance on corporate boards. The development comes 10 years after the European Commission first proposed the rules, and occurs at a time when many companies face pressure to increase diversity on their boards and management teams. In this episode of the ESG Insider podcast, we look at what the new law means for companies, investors and women. "If we want to be sure that women have equal rights, but also if we want to ensure that companies have the best potential leads in their executive committee and their boards, you really need to tap into all talent," Hedwige Nuyens, Chair of European Women on Boards, a lobby group, tells us. In the episode we also talk to Miriam Marra, Associate Professor of Finance at Henley Business School in the U.K., who explains the role of gender quotas in improving gender balance on corporate boards. And we speak to Martin Winner, Professor for Business Law at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, who tells us how the new law could encourage EU countries lagging on board diversity to take action. We'd love to hear from you. To give us feedback on this episode or share ideas for future episodes, please contact hosts Lindsey Hall ( lindsey.hall@spglobal.com ) and Esther Whieldon ( esther.whieldon@spglobal.com ). Copyright © 2022 by S&P Global DISCLAIMER By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.