More Women Take Seats in Corporate Boardrooms Worldwide??

NEW YORK—As women establish a growing presence on corporate boards worldwide, Women Corporate Directors (WCD)—an organization of influential women executives, including CEOs, COOs and other C-level executives who serve on major corporate boards—is opening new chapters in Brazil, China and Hong Kong this spring, supported by a strategic partnership with Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.??

Deborah L. Wince-Smith, president of the Council of Competitiveness and a board member of WCD, took part in this week’s launch event in Brazil. “If you look at any great civilization,” says Wince-Smith, “they included women as innovators, as artists, and most leading companies in the United States that are at the forefront of corporate best practices do have more and more women on their boards. In terms of the innovation imperative for our nation, it is important for companies to recognize that bringing more, diverse voices to the table will help them create something of new value.”

“As part of our commitment to the next generation of board leadership, and to women’s leadership as a whole, we are proud to partner with WCD on a global level,” says Kevin Kelly, CEO of Heidrick & Struggles. “As a company, we are working to increase the number of women on corporate boards in markets throughout the world, and see WCD as a powerful ally in this endeavor.”

Business challenges that are threatening companies’ very survival demand more diversity in corporate boardrooms—to capture a broader range of thinking and problem-solving,” says Susan Stautberg, WCD’s co-founder. “The inclusion of more women as decision-makers enables boards to more accurately analyze risk and helps management see beyond the next quarter to the bigger picture.”

WCD has more than 525 members serving on 675 boards worldwide. Top global search firm Heidrick & Struggles has emerged as one of the industry’s leaders in boosting women’s numbers in the boardroom. At a meeting with the managing director of the World Bank at the 2008 World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Kelly pledged that for each slate of candidates the firm presented for board searches, at least one woman would be included on the shortlist.

“And,” notes Kelly, “while this is a good first step and a commitment we believe the market will permit us to achieve today, we will not rest until the boards of directors we serve have the look and composition of the society in which we all live.”

Teaming with Heidrick & Struggles has allowed WCD to expand its reach and influence, especially in emerging markets, and the opening of new chapters in Sao Paulo, Hong Kong and Beijing signals a new trend in more women directors in Asia and South America in particular. “Having a global presence with deep local expertise—we have five offices in China—Heidrick & Struggles is able to offer unparalleled experience in WCD’s new target markets,” says Bonnie Gwin, partner at Heidrick & Struggles. “Our women partners have already worked with WCD to open chapters in London, Delhi and Mumbai, and have helped lay the groundwork for Sao Paulo, Hong Kong and Beijing by fostering a dialogue among women directors in these countries.”??

“Our launch in Brazil addresses the critical themes of innovation and competitiveness, especially as they relate to corporate survival,” says Stautberg.

The Beijing and Hong Kong launches in May will focus on the topic of the world financial structure and its implications for boards of directors globally. With boards facing lightning-rod issues such as increased scrutiny of executive pay and CEO succession, WCD argues that having more women directors offers a better opportunity for companies to make it through the crisis. “At a time when help is needed most, the WCD network leverages local, regional and global knowledge—and perspectives from other directors and boards worldwide—and puts them to good use,” says WCD’s co-founder, Alison Winter. “Women directors can help boards tackle their toughest issues, and smart boards are going global in members and mindset.”?

For further information, please contact Davia Temin or Suzanne Oaks of Temin and Company at 212 588 8788 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).??

About Women Corporate Directors??

Women Corporate Directors (WCD) is the only national and international community of women corporate directors who meet and connect regularly to distribute board openings, discuss member news, share speaking and media opportunities, and conduct surveys about the important challenges facing boards today. A leader in establishing best practice in corporate governance globally, WCD is committed to identifying critical issues facing corporate boards in general, and women board members in particular.?WCD was formed by Susan Stautberg, the CEO of PartnerCom Corporation, and Alison Winter, former president and CEO, Personal Financial Services-Northeast for Northern Trust, and director of Nordstrom.?In addition to chapters in Sao Paulo, Hong Kong and Beijing opening this spring, WCD has chapters in Arizona, Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Delhi, Lima, London, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Mumbai, New York, Seattle, Southern California, South Florida and Washington, D.C. WCD members serve as directors of both the New York and NASDAQ OMX Stock Exchanges, as well as top global corporations such as 3M, AFLAC, Caterpillar, CVS, Honeywell, Kraft Foods, UnitedHealth Group, Pepsi, Royal Dutch Shell, Spring Nextel, Starbucks, Wal-mart and Wells Fargo.

About Heidrick & Struggles??

Founded in 1953, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.?? is recognized as one of the world’s leading executive search firms. With more than 60 offices in the principal cities of 33 countries, it helps its clients to address strategic issues that have human capital solutions in times of growth, turnaround, acquisition, integration, expansion into new markets, and economic flux.?With its executive search, leadership services and interim management capabilities, Heidrick & Struggles can seamlessly integrate a customized approach to meeting the diverse leadership challenges facing its client organizations. The organization prides itself on its relationships with, and immediate access to, some of the world’s most talented people.