Personal, Educational and Career Characteristics of Canadian Women ‘Directors’

Corporate directors have almost exclusively been white males. Women have been increasingly appointed to corporate boards but their numbers remain small at about five per cent (Gillies, 1992; Lorsch & MacIver, 1989). Several studies have provided a picture of the demographic characteristics of directors. Although the specific details and numbers vary slightly from study to study, results are consistent and strong. Corporate directors form a rather homogeneous group. Of all Fortune 1000 directors, 94% were white males, 67% were over 55 years of age, and 63% were CEOs of other corporations.