2020 Women on Boards Los Angeles Applauds Increase in Numbers of Women on Corporate Boards in California

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Minor increases in numbers of women on corporate boards in California
were applauded today at the fifth annual “2020 Women on Boards” event in
Los Angeles, with audience of 360 business executives at the LA Hotel
downtown. Largest of 19 separate events held today throughout the U.S.,
the Los Angeles 2020WOB supports the national initiative to build
awareness toward achieving at least 20% of board seats held by women by
the year 2020.

Co-chaired by Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, president of Berkhemer Clayton
Retained Executive Search, and Renee Fraser, Ph.D, CEO of Fraser
Communications, the Los Angeles 2020WOB panel included Peter J. Taylor
of Los Angeles, Edison International board; Marilyn A. Alexander of
Newport Beach, Tutor-Perini, Torchmark and DCT Industrial boards; and
Amanda Kimball of Sacramento, head of research, University of California
Davis Graduate School of Management (GSM).

Among the 400 largest companies in California, the percentage of women
directors has risen slowly to today’s high of 13.3 percent in 2015 from
the low 8.8 percent in 2006. Women hold 432 of 3,260 total board seats
among California’s largest 400 companies. San Francisco County has the
highest percentage of women directors (20.2 %), and Orange County has
the lowest (10.5 %), followed closely by Los Angeles County (11.6 %) and
Santa Clara County (12.7 %). Statewide, the Bay Area (14.5%) is ahead of
Southern California (11.7 %).

“Even though the increases are small, we are making progress,” explain
Berkhemer-Credaire and Fraser, also co-hosts of the Radio Show
“Unfinished Business,” www.UnfinishedBusinessTips.com.
However, 92 of California’s largest 400 companies still have NO women
directors, and one-third of companies with no women on boards are
headquartered in Silicon Valley. Berkhemer-Credaire is author of
the book “The Board Game–How Smart Women Become Corporate Directors.”

“The business case is clear that having greater gender representation on
corporate boards leads to better performance, profitability and
productivity,” adds Fraser. “We are confident our volunteer efforts will
add to the chorus for more women on boards.”

2020 Women on Boards is a nonprofit organization launched in Boston in
2010 by Stephanie Sonnabend and Malli Gero. See www.WomenOnBoards.com.

Contacts

2020 Women on Boards
Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, 213-621-2300 x 23