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Step forward or be stepped over, women are warned
More women need to put themselves forward for top jobs in travel, according to a leading head-hunter for the travel and tourism industries.
Gail Kenny of the Gail Kenny Group said women were naturally reticent about applying for board-level roles.
Addressing the Institute of Travel & Tourism (ITT) conference, Kenny said that although the Government had ordered companies to appoint more women to their boards, it was hard for them to find willing candidates.
"Lord Davies told FTSE100 companies that at least a quarter of their board directors should be women by 2015," said Kenny. "I regularly compile long lists and shortlists for my clients, but what is clearly noticeable is the distinct lack of female candidates on these lists.
“Since Christmas, the FTSE100 is on track with female board appointments at about 30%. The FTSE250 still has a way to go at 19%.
"We, as headhunters, also have a code of conduct (albeit voluntary) that requires us to present long lists on which a fair percentage of candidates are women. This is a big challenge when searching within the travel and hospitality sector."
Kenny also highlighted the limited number of women who speak at senior-level conferences such as the ITT – an issue the Association of Women Travel Executives is attempting to address with its Women to the Podium initiative which, among other initiatives, tackles the underlying beliefs that prevent women putting themselves forward for the boardroom.
By Linsey McNeill
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Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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