#GAReads | Closing the Gaps: More Work Needed to Accelerate Gender and Racial Diversity on Fortune 500 Boards according to Heidrick & Struggles' 2019 U.S. Board Monitor
While the number of women board directors on Fortune 500 companies has increased steadily overall during the past decade, the total share of seats held by women on these boards in 2018 was only 22.5%. There has been only slight improvement for female appointees at 40% in 2018, following the previous high of 38% in 2017. Racially and ethnically diverse new board appointments in 2018 remained unchanged from 2017's record high of 23%.