Malaysia Amongst Top 10 Economies With Women In Senior Management

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Bernama)-- Malaysia is still among the top 10 economies with women holding senior positions, despite a slight drop of 28 per cent from 30 per cent last year, according to the Grant Thornton's International Business Report (IBR). Russia emerges as the country with the highest proportion of women in senior management at 48 per cent, followed by Botswana, Thailand and the Philippines, all at 39 per cent. A statement by SJ Grant Thornton said the position held most by women in senior management in Malaysia was Human Resource Director (20 per cent), Chief Financial Officer (10 per cent) and other Finance Directors (nine per cent). This is followed by Chief Operating Officers and General/Office Managers, (both eight per cent) and only six per cent of the businesses surveyed, were run by women Chief Executive Officers (CEOs). However, the IBR noted that 21 per cent of businesses surveyed did not have any women on their board of management. SJ Grant Thornton Managing Partner NK Jasani said the steady drop-off being seen in the emerging markets was a real concern. "We may reaching the point where women are under-represented in senior management the world over," he added. He said there was a need for a public discussion now about the policies and practices that would enable and encourage women to continue to progress in the workplace. The positions held by women globally in senior management are Human Resource Directors (21 per cent), followed by Chief Financial Officers (13 per cent) while a further 13 per cent of businesses had them in senior finance roles such as Corporate Controller. -- BERNAMA