New EU report highlights lack of female executive recruitment

A report from Mercer has highlighted the lack of representation for women in management and senior executive roles across Europe, suggesting that a "pyramid of invisibility" still permeates boardroom culture with regards to hiring women for executive positions.

The data shows that only 29 per cent of executive positions in European boardrooms are filled by women.

Sophie Black, principal in Mercer's executive remuneration team, cites this as evidence that a complicated confluence of factors is still making it difficult for women to progress to the very top in business.

"The cause is complicated. It's cultural, social, in some cases it is intentional discrimination but it can also be unconscious," suggested Ms Black.

She added that the issue of maternity leave continues to cause problems at executive levels, with women expected to deal with family duties in a certain way or risk being penalised by their employers.

This data comes despite a recent study by Corporate Women Directors International suggesting that government quotas are finally cracking the problem of glass ceilings in European boardrooms.