Women Directors Advance In 2004

Women directors made strides in 2004 among companies of the S&P 500, new research shows. Nearly one-quarter (24%) of the 443 new independent directors reported in S&P 500 company proxies in 2004 were women, compared with 19% in 2003, according to executive recruiting firm Spencer Stuart Inc., New York. Some 87% of S&P boards now have at least one woman director. Manufacturers for whom women comprise at least 30% of directors include Avon Products Inc., Hershey Foods Corp., Boise Cascade Corp. and Colgate-Palmolive Co., according to Spencer Stuart.