August 2023 Report Summary

In August, women comprised 25.8% of new appointments to the boards of public companies. Public companies appointed 71 women to boards and 204 men to their boards. The pressure to increase diversity at the board level remains critical to ensuring the advancement of women moving into board positions. 

While only 17 of the newly appointed women board members (61.97% of new women appointments) chose to self-disclose their race, boards must continue to diversify and the data continues to highlight the value of disclosure. In August, Asian/Pacific Islander and Black/African American women took the lead in board appointments with 7 women each being appointed to public boards, making up 41.18% of all appointments. They are closely followed by 3 Hispanic / Latino women (17.65%). Companies such as Coursera, Inc., Exelon Corporation, and CoStar Group, Inc. are leading the way as part of a phenomenal group that have appointed diverse women to their boards. 

Of the 71 women appointed to the boards of public companies, 44, or 61.97%, were first time board appointments. In August, Healthcare companies led the way in the appointment of women followed by Industrials companies, with appointed women filling 25.35% of board seats at Healthcare companies and 18.31% at Industrials companies. In the Healthcare industry, we see strides being made by women at companies like Catalent, Inc.