Pink Collar CEOs

September 14 2006 - A new study shows that twice as many women hold the top executive position in the Fortune 500 compared to five years ago. The number has increased from five in August 2001 and will be 11 in October 2006 whenPepsiCo chief finance officer Indra Nooyi is scheduled to take over as CEO.

The study conducted by executive search firm Christian & Timbers found that six out of the 11 female CEOs are working in the 'pink collar' sectors producing or selling food and personal products. In 2001 only one Fortune 500 female CEO was in retail.

Further study findings include:

• Of the six female CEOs in the pink collar sectors, three came from operations, one is moving from CFO to CEO and two came up through marketing.
• In 2006 only three out of 11 female CEOs are in the IT /computer equipment sector compared to two out of five in 2001.
• Five out of ten female CEOs in the Fortune 501-1000 are in pink collar sectors.

Brendan Burnett Stohner, leader of diversity practice and a vice chairman of Christian & Timbers said:

"From PepsiCo to Avon to Sara Lee, women are driving big change at some of the biggest companies in the country. Boards are beginning to see that women CEOs can drive bottom-line results and protect the reputation of billion dollar brands. The problem is that women are for the most part, still left out of the corner office of major technology companies, financials and the big industrials. We have a long way to go before we see real equity. The talent is there. At Christian & Timbers our commitment is to get the top women in the county in front of the right boards to move diversity forward."

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