logo-loader

FTSE 100, the women CEOs defying widening gender wage gaps

Published: 16:35 28 Mar 2023 BST

Diageo PLC -
Debra Crew becomes Diageo boss after working as chief operating officer for the drinks company - Source Kris Lou Photography

On Wednesday, reports found that the gender wage gap had unfortunately increased in the last seven years. 

However, a very exclusive club of FTSE 100 female chief executives continue to defy trends seen by wider society.

So, who are these trailblazing leaders and what has been their impact on the companies that appointed them?

In March, it was announced that Debra Crew will be taking charge of Diageo PLC (LSE:DGE) in July, joining just eight other women who are in head leadership roles at FTSE 100 companies.

Alison Rose, NatWest

Source: NatWest Group

Source: NatWest Group

Appointed in November 2019, Rose has had to contend with the ramifications of Covid, Brexit and the current cost-of-living crisis.

In this period the retail bank has witnessed its share price grow by 12.5% to reach a current price of 259p – the second-best growth out of all the current female bosses.

Amanda Blanc, Aviva

Source: Aviva PLC

Source: Aviva

The Welsh businesswoman has set Aviva PLC (LSE:AV.) on a positive path since taking the reins of the insurer in June 2020.

She was voted the Sunday Times businessperson of the year in 2022 and has had to deal with an activist investor and sexism during her time in charge.

Her simplification of Aviva has allowed its share price to grow by 6% in her tenure, with analysts at RBC arguing the stock is “overly discounted” following SVB and Credit Suisse’s collapse.

Emma Walmsley, GSK

Source: GSK

Source: GSK

The pharmaceutical company’s boss had experience working at L’Oréal and on the board at Diageo prior to her promotion from consumer healthcare boss to chief executive.

Her appointment in 2017 left some investors questioning if she had enough experience but may have quieted critics after overseeing the spinoff of Haleon last year.

Although, with recent FDA investigations into GSK’s Zantac medication and the share price falling by 13% since taking charge, the critics' murmurs might be getting a bit louder.

Jette Nygaard-Andersen, Entain

Source: Financial Times

Source: Financial Times

The Danish boss became the first-ever female CEO of a listed betting company when she took over the Ladbrokes owner at the start of 2021.

The company has remained at the forefront of discussions about acquisitions since she joined, with both DraftKings and MGM Resorts having a purchase offer denied in recent years.

Shares in the company have fallen 8.5% in her time in charge and the issue of gambling legislation, which saw the company pay a £17mln fine last year, may only grow with the gambling white paper due in the coming months.

Liv Garfield, Severn Trent

Source: The Telegraph

Source: The Telegraph

The longest-reigning female CEO on the list, Garfield took charge in 2014 and has helped the water provider’s share price grow by 51%.

She is one of three current female chiefs who works with a female chairperson, with Christine Hodgson presiding over the company’s board.

The company celebrated becoming the first FTSE all-women board earlier this year, but issues of untreated sewage released into rivers and oceans may leave a nasty smell for the Coventry-based company.

Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone


Source: company

The Italian businesswoman is currently the interim CEO of the telecom company after former boss Nick Read stepped down following more than two decades at Vodafone.

Della Valle, who is also the firm’s chief financial officer, took over at the start of 2023 and while revenues continue to drop, shares are trading almost 3% higher than before she took charge.

Jennie Daly, Taylor Wimpey

Source: Show House Magazine's

Source: company

Prior to Crew, the most recently appointed full-time FTSE 100 female boss, Daly joined in April last year and is set for a difficult tenure in the near future.

Shares in the housebuilder are down around 12% since she took charge and declining house prices won’t be welcomed even if the company reported an uptick in trading in early March.

Daly also works alongside female chair Irene Dorner, a former CEO of HSBC North America.

Milena Mondini de Focatiis, Admiral

Source: The Times

Source: The Times

Another Italian female CEO, at another insurance company working with another female chairperson.

Sharing similarities with other names on the list, the Admiral chief does offer one clear difference – she currently boasts the worst share price performance out of all members of the list.

Since becoming the boss in March 2021, the stock has dropped by 32.5% and such woes persist, highlighted by the 39% fall in profits in 2022.

Notable mentions:

Both Alison Brittain, formerly of Whitbread, and Louise Beardmore, set to take over United Utilities in the coming months, just missed the cut.

Brittain switched Premier Inn for the Premier League last year, after spending 7 years as boss, her reign saw a 25% fall in the company’s share price largely driven by Covid.

Accesso's landmark deal with SEVEN marks strategic growth in the Saudi Market

Accesso Technology Group PLC (AIM:ACSO, OTC:LOQPF) chief executive Steve Brown joins Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with details of a significant partnership with Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN). Brown noted the collaboration highlights accesso's strategy to grow its global footprint,...

19 minutes ago