The share of women in management positions at corporations listed on the Swiss Market Index (SMI) reached 19%, or nearly one in five, in 2021.
This content was published on
3 minutes
Keystone-SDA/swissinfo.ch/gw
The modest increase, from 13% in 2020, is largely thanks to an average of close to four of every ten new management appointments in 2021 going to women, according to a study published in the SonntagsZeitung newspaper. A whopping 92% of these women managers came from abroad, namely the United States, Great Britain, Germany and France, the study by the recruitment agency Russel Reynolds Association shows.
Twenty companies are listed on the SMI, the Swiss stock exchange’s flagship index. Among them Partners Group performed best in terms of women representation at the executive level (38%), followed by Zurich Insurance Group (36%) and Holcim (30%). However, none of the 20 companies has a woman CEO.
The analysis also covered companies in the mid-cap index, the SMIM, which fared less well: women there filled 13.4% of management positions. In the lead is banking software developer Temenos (42%).
A new provision in Swiss law came into force on January 1, 2021 that requires large companies to ensure at least 20% of their executive boards is comprised of women.
‘Madam Secretary’
Women leaders have also made inroads in the top echelons of the federal administration, Le Matin Dimanche reported on Sunday. With the arrival of Christine Schraner Burgener at the helm of the migration department on January 1, all five secretaries of state – the most prestigious job titles in the federal public service – are now women.
The progress made in the last 15 years is no accident, according to the newspaper. In 2005, Micheline Calmy-Rey, then the foreign affairs minister, made a concerted effort to recruit more women into the foreign service. At the time, less than 14% of diplomats were women.
Women representation is fragile, however. One of the secretaries of state, Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, will retire this summer. And men still occupy three-quarters of management positions in the federal administration.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Swiss voters to decide on three issues on November 30
This content was published on
Compulsory service for all, a tax on million-dollar inheritances, more indirect subsidies for media publishers: the electorate can vote on these three national issues on November 30.
Dollar falls to lowest level against franc in 14 years
This content was published on
The weakness of the dollar in recent weeks continues. The greenback hit new lows for the year against both the franc and the euro on Tuesday.
This content was published on
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter has met French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the EU treaties and geopolitical challenges. US tariffs were also part of the bilateral talks.
This content was published on
Swiss moors and floodplains are in a poor state. Researchers say further efforts are needed to preserve these biotopes in the long term.
Drones banned during the three Euro games in St Gallen
This content was published on
The St. Gallen government has issued a temporary ban on flying drones around the football stadium in St. Gallen. The measure will apply on three match days of Euro 2025, which starts on Wednesday.
EU nationals come to Switzerland primarily to work
This content was published on
Given the demographic slowdown, the Swiss labour market must remain open, argues the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in its annual report on the free movement of people.
UN expert accuses Glencore of complicity with Israel
This content was published on
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories has accused Zug-based Glencore of profiting from an Israeli economy that has become "an economy of genocide".
Swiss parliamentary commission to investigate F-35 purchase
This content was published on
The Swiss government and the other responsible authorities must once again answer critical questions about the procurement of the F-35 fighter jets.
Objections and appeals most common obstacles to residential construction projects
This content was published on
Objections and appeals are most frequently responsible for delays in new residential construction projects in Switzerland.
Swiss electricity prices predicted to fall in 2026
This content was published on
Electricity prices in 2026 are likely to be lower than this year, according to a survey. The main reason is the fall in prices on the electricity market.
Top Swiss diplomat to head migration and asylum agency
This content was published on
Christine Schraner Burgener, United Nations special envoy to Myanmar, to be new head of the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.