Changing workplaces. Changing lives.

2006 Catalyst Census of Women Corporate Officers and Top Earners of the FP500 in Canada

Hardcopy: $25.00
Add to Cart

Research Reports

Published: April 2007

Download (Free)

Catalyst has been tracking the progress of women in corporate leadership in Canada since 1998. We include an accurate accounting of the number of women corporate officers, their functional status, and the types of titles they hold. We also present the number of women corporate officers who are among the top earners at these companies, as well as other relevant breakdowns.  This year marks the first in which the study is published in brochure format, highlighting only our key findings, with detailed Appendices available only online.

Impetus: In 1998, Catalyst began producing an annual Census to assess the status of women in corporate leadership of the largest companies in Canada. This 2006 Catalyst Census of Women Corporate Officers and Top Earners of the FP500 marks our fourth such report and provides a snapshot of both corporate accomplishment concerning women’s advancement and work yet to be done.

Methodology:

  • Catalyst analyzed the corporate officers and top earners of each company in the Financial Post 500, which includes publicly traded companies, privately held companies, crown corporations, and co-operatives.
  • In July 2006, Catalyst sent letters to our contact at each company to verify the total number of corporate officers, as well as the name, gender, title, and line/staff status of each officer. In addition, we confirmed the name, title, and gender of the most highly compensated individuals listed in the management proxies. Our verification rate in 2006 was 93.4 percent.
  • For those companies that did not take the opportunity to verify their data, Catalyst has reported the unverified data we obtained from public records.
  • Research teams audited all data multiple times, comparing printouts from the database with the verification from companies and public records to ensure accuracy.
  • The report represents the gender diversity of corporate leadership at FP500 companies as of June 2, 2006.

Findings: Women’s advancement in corporate leadership in Canada reveals limited growth. Although women have made some progress in certain aspects, most indicators have remained relatively flat. In 2006, women held 15.1 percent of corporate officer positions in the FP500, up from 14.4 percent in 2004. The number of companies with at least one woman corporate officer has experienced a significant four-percentage-point increase to 65.6 percent from 61.4 percent in 2004. Of the women who are corporate officers, neither the number of women who hold line positions, 9.9 percent in 2006 compared to 9.4 percent in 2004, nor the number of women who hold “clout” titles, 7.3 percent in 2006 compared to 7.1 percent in 2004, have increased meaningfully.  However, there are some indicators of progress. One-hundred-and- one companies (20.2 percent) have 25 percent or more women corporate officers, up from 95 companies (19.0 percent) in 2004, and 20 women lead 21 FP500 companies, up from 19 women leading 20 companies in 2004.  The increase in the number of women in the “Executive Pipeline” also appears promising. Women now hold 16.2 percent of positions in the “Executive Pipeline,” up from 14.8 percent in 2004. The Census Appendices, available only online, provide lists of the numbers of women corporate officers and total officers alphabetically by company,  company revenue, industry, and province/territory.

Lead Sponsor: American Express Canada
Participating Sponsors: INCO Limited; Linamar Corporation; McKinsey & Co.

Appendices:

Canadian-COTE-2006