Mandatory board quota for women? CEOs' views mixed

Singapore

CHIEF executive officers in general support having gender diversity on corporate boards but when it comes to setting a mandatory quota, close to 30 per cent of those who responded to a poll by The Business Times are against the idea.

The poll was prompted by a recent call by the People's Action Party (PAP) Women's Wing and BoardAgender for companies to set mandatory targets for women representation on their boards and to explain specifically why if they do not meet the quota.

Current recommendations allow companies to set targets of their own choosing, but the two organisations advocate that companies should adopt a target of at least 20 per cent female board representat…