Women hold a quarter of senior management positions in MLEs
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Kuala Lumpur 29 April 2009 - New research from Grant Thornton International reveals that Malaysia ranked fifth globally for senior positions held by women with 31% compared to the global average of 24%. The percentage of women in senior management of business has increased as much as +8% from 23% in the year of 2007. A total of 39% of businesses in Malaysia have three or more women holding senior positions.
The greatest percentage of women in senior management is in the Philippines where women hold 47% of senior positions. This is followed by Russia (42%) and Thailand (38%). The lowest percentage continues to be in Japan where only 7% of senior management positions are held by women. Also appearing low down in the league table are Denmark (13%) and Belgium (12%).
Women still hold less than a quarter of senior management positions in MLEs (Medium to Large Enterprises) globally. 24% of senior management positions are currently held by women - a figure identical to 2007 and only a marginal improvement from 2004 when only 19% of senior level positions were held by women. 34% of MLEs globally have no women in senior management.
Dato’ N.K. Jasani, Managing Partner of SJ Grant Thornton said, "Our Government has agreed on a policy to ensure at least 30% of all decision-making positions in the public sector will eventually be held by women. With this supportive policy, we are able to see more capable female senior management contributing in many organisations across different sectors of the economy, e.g. government, financial services, manufacturing, retail, healthcare and many more.”
In this respect we at SJ Grant Thornton are happy to note that about 40 per cent of our Managerial positions are held by women and they contribute significantly to our operations.
Ms. Seah Siew Yun, Tax Director at SJ Grant Thornton said, “Women in Malaysia have broken the proverbial ‘glass ceiling’, not only in the corporate world but also in government and particularly the over-whelming numbers at the universities. As a tax specialist, I have not encountered an all male management team.
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Dato Jasani continued, “It is encouraging that more women emerging in a male dominated business environment. This proves that women are equally strong and capable in contributing towards the growth of the society. Women leaders are committed and determined while being good at balancing their work and their family.” - ends -
Dato’ NK Jasani Managing Partner, SJ Grant Thornton (pic above)
For further information please contact:
Charmane Koh
Executive, Corporate Communications
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Notes to editors:
About SJ Grant Thornton:
SJ Grant Thornton is a leading accounting and consulting firm in Malaysia. We are a member firm within Grant Thornton International Ltd and provide assurance, tax advisory and compliance, corporate finance, corporate restructuring and management consulting services.
The firm operates from its main office in Kuala Lumpur and its other offices in Penang, Johore Bahru and Kuantan.
About IBR:
The Grant Thornton International Business Report is an annual survey of the views of senior executives in privately held businesses all over the world. Launched in 1992 in nine European countries the report now surveys over 7,200 MLEs in 36 economies providing territory, regional and global trend data on the economic and commercial issues affecting a sector often described as the 'engine' of the world's economy. Data for eight key industry sectors will be available for the first time in 2009.
This will be the fourth time the Malaysian firm is participating in the Global Report, now in its seventh consecutive year. For its previous involvement, the full results were launched in July last year by YB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Minister of International Trade and Industry Malaysia.
The research is conducted by Experian Business Strategies Ltd. Grant Thornton International donates US$5 to UNICEF for every completed IBR questionnaire, a donation of over US$39,000 in 2008.
To find out more about the Grant Thornton International Business Report, please visit www.internationalbusinessreport.com
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