In the news

At a time when gender diversity, and especially quotas, are being discussed intensively, boards should strongly consider appointing lesser known female candidates, notes Damien O'Brien, CEO of Egon Zehnder International, in an interview with The Australian. Lamenting the tendency to recruit directors from a very limited universe in smaller markets, O’Brien urges companies to adopt a more strategic approach. "In a world where talent is constrained, women represent an extraordinarily rich goldmine of talent, which most countries fail to use," he notes. In Australia, "There are a number of boards which are now appointing individuals who are supposedly unproven, who have stepped up beautifully," O’Brien adds. Moreover, in many cases women represent "a more inclusive, values-based leadership which values creativity" and is extremely well-suited to the current business environment, O’Brien concludes.