Public companies have made strides in increasing the diversity of their boards of directors in the face of pressure from multiple stakeholders, according to a report by The Conference Board (TCB) and ESG data analytics firm ESGAUGE, but they still have a ways to go. The report, Corporate Board Practices in the Russell 3000, S&P 500 and S&P Midcap 400: 2021 Edition, is a comprehensive review of board composition, director demographics and governance practices at public companies in the United States. Among the key findings are:
- Across the three indices, an average of 79 percent of board directors are white.
- Over the past six years, companies on the S&P Midcap 400 have made the most progress in gender diversity, with women growing from 16 percent of directors to 27 percent.
- Only 17 percent of healthcare companies disclose the racial or ethnic identities of board members.
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