Women on boards, Italy is among the most virtuous countries in Europe

Italy is among the European excellencies. At least as far as the presence of women on the boards of directors of listed companies is concerned. Consob data indicated at the end of 2023 a percentage of women at 43.1%, well above the 7% of 2011, the year in which Law 120, the so-called Golfo-Mosca law from the names of the two parliamentarians who signed it, was approved. Ahead of Italy only France (46.7% in Cac40 and 46.3% in Sbf 120) and Norway (43.5%), which was the first European nation to adopt a gender quota law in 2003.

Ours is the pink jersey for the percentage of women chairing committees, according to the Deloitte report 'Women in the boardroom 2024': 52% audit, 54% governance, 57% remuneration, 60% control and risk. The sore point comes when it comes to top levels: women CEOs and chairmen are still a rarity. In our country, according to the Deloitte study, only 4% of CEOs in Piazza Affari are women. And in management, women do not make up 25%.

"Diversity and inclusion are as important for people as they are for the company. Organisational models that favour these components generate value from an ethical and social point of view and have a positive effect on business performance, on the competitiveness of organisations and on the trust of customers, partners and shareholders who see the company as attentive to important social issues," observes Gianni Franco Papa, CEO of Bper, who adds: "Bper has specific objectives for gender equality and the enhancement of female leadership and a structured strategy to favour diversity and inclusion with objectives, parameters, budgets, resources and executive capacity. We monitor kpi related to inclusion and equal opportunities and have a management development path for women'.

In the latest round of shareholders' meetings, Tim's board of directors was renewed, which for the first time in the company's history is led by a woman, Alberta Figari. "Companies are still mainly governed by men, but talent, leadership, and the ability to build and innovate do not belong to just one gender. In the Tim Group we have not stopped at listed companies, we have increased the number of women in all the boards of directors of group companies to around 50 per cent. Then we tackled the pay gap problem (and we will continue to do so) and we are continuing to increase the number of women in managerial roles. These are changes that fuel enthusiasm, energy and motivation,' emphasises Pietro Labriola, CEO of Tim.

At Amplifon, the role of chairman is also held by a woman, Susan Carol Holland, but the peculiarity is that the board is female-dominated (5 out of 9 women). "Diversity in general, and gender diversity in particular, within the boardrooms is not only fair but a source of enrichment in terms of points of view and skills. This is not a statement of principle but is also linked to my personal experience in the current Amplifon board, which is made up of a majority of women whose contribution is fundamental to the company's success," explains CEO Enrico Vita.