123 FTSE 350 companies have BAME directors

The number of FTSE 350 companies with a director of colour has increased by 108 per cent over the past year, according to Thomson Reuters which compiled the data. The increase means 123 of the largest listed firms now have a black, Asian, or minority ethnic director (BAME) on board, up from just 59 last year. This accounts for nearly half of the FTSE 350 at 45 per cent.
A director of practical law at Thomson Reuters, Hilary Owens Gray was quoted by a report as saying, “It is important that companies continue to make improvements in this area, as there seems to be no slowing in the drivers for the increased board and leadership diversity, including pressure from politicians and regulators. Evidence shows that more diverse businesses can be more successful businesses and ultimately deliver better long-term returns for shareholders.”
Launched in 2017, the review gave FTSE 100 firms until the end of 2021 to appoint at least one BAME board-level director. The same target was set for the FTSE 250 companies, but with a deadline of 2024. The increase in representation was a result of companies racing to meet voluntary deadlines to appoint at least one BAME director to their boards.
Presently, women make up 39 per cent of all directorships across the FTSE 100, up from 35 per cent last year, holding a total of 402 roles, according to the Thompson Reuters research also found. About 46 companies now have boards where women hold at least 40 per cent of the roles, compared with 31 in 2020 and just 25 in 2021, suggesting “significant strides” had been made towards gender parity at the board level, the report said.