Younger and more feminine, French boards of directors are diversifying

The exemplary nature of the French governance model is confirmed, according to the second part of the barometer on the boards of directors of the top 120 listed groups of the French Institute of Administrators (IFA) -Ethics & Boards. More than two-thirds of SBF 120 boards were renewed this year. The document scrutinizes the 214 nominations (against 170 in 2020), of which 75% are first-time entrants. With an average age of 55.6 years, the latter are younger than all the directors (58.7 years). The new profiles are also more international, with 33.6% foreigners, against 31.3% in all mandates.

As a result of the application of the Pacte law, employee representatives are more numerous.

In six years, their presence has doubled, reaching 14% around the table.

As for the presence of women on boards, it has steadily increased in recent years: they are now 45.7%.

A proportion that is far ahead of that of our neighbors across the Rhine (31.2% at HDAX), and across the Channel (37.4% at FTSE 100).

New skills

As a result of the health crisis, new skills are being installed in advice, with in particular a breakthrough in profiles from digital (11.3% against 4% in 2019), legal and risk sectors (7.2% against 2, 9%) and human resources (4.2% against 1.5%). Likewise, issues related to climate and CSR are strongly linked to the issues of advice. While in 2015 only a quarter of boards had a committee in charge of CSR, this share is now rising to 64%. Within the HDAX, it is only 8.1%, while in the United Kingdom it amounts to 47% for the FTSE 100. This concern in the French councils has repercussions on variable remuneration; now, in CAC 40 companies, extra-financial objectives represent 32.5% of theallocation of annual variable compensation for executives. "

”, assures Karine Dognin-Sauze, Director General of the IFA.