Harvey Nash has become one of the first eight executive search companies to achieve accreditation for its work in helping small and medium sized companies increase female participation on boards.
The accreditation, awarded by the Lord Davies’ Steering Group for Women on Boards -- working with the Department of Business, Skills and Innovation -- recognises the valuable work Harvey Nash is doing with companies outside the FTSE 350.
In particular, during the last 12 months Harvey Nash has:
- Supported the appointment of women to substantial boards of small cap, private, mutual, international and subsidiary businesses, including the not for profit/government sector.
- Achieved a proportion of at least 33% female appointments in its board work (across both Executive and Non-Executive Director roles).
- Demonstrated a proven record of helping women to achieve their first substantial board appointment and complied with all of the best practice provisions set out in the Standard and Enhanced Code laid out in the Lord Davies Review.
Albert Ellis, CEO Harvey Nash Group commented: “Over seven years ago Harvey Nash was the first executive recruitment company to publicly challenge the head-hunters’ stranglehold on the market for senior Board positions and the sector’s reluctance to promote diversity and gender balance when presenting shortlists to clients. Since then we have established Inspire, one of the world’s largest networks for senior women in business and invested in the pipeline through our unique Women’s Development Programme at The University of Hong Kong. I have also witnessed personally the profound changes in the recruitment industry’s approach and willingness to be part of the solution, not just the problem.
I am therefore delighted that Harvey Nash Executive Search is being recognised in this way for its diversity work. As an executive recruiter we recognise not only the important role we can play in changing perceptions, but most importantly our role in educating the market and our clients whilst actively extending the pool of available talent on shortlists.”