- Grant Thornton’s Women in Business 2026 report reveals significant strides in gender diversity in senior leadership in Ireland, but persistent barriers remain for women aspiring to CEO roles.
- While all-male leadership teams have dramatically decreased, women are significantly underrepresented in top executive positions compared to other roles like CFO and HR director.
- The report indicates a growing consideration of gender balance in recruitment, with many prospective employees seeking evidence of gender equality commitments from companies.
- Companies prioritising gender diversity are seen to enhance their decision-making processes and improve long-term success.
- Amidst progress, experts stress the need for ongoing efforts to ensure women can equally pursue and attain top leadership roles.
The latest report from Grant Thornton, titled Women in Business 2026, presents a mixed picture of progress regarding gender diversity in Ireland’s corporate landscape. Conducted between July and October 2025 across over 100 Irish businesses, the findings demonstrate that while there have been notable improvements, substantial challenges persist for women aiming for senior leadership positions, particularly CEOs.
Significantly, the proportion of all-male leadership teams has declined sharply from approximately 16% to just below 7%. Despite this progress, the report underscores a stark disparity in the types of leadership roles held by women. According to the data, women are four times more likely to occupy positions as Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) or Human Resources (HR) directors than to achieve the title of CEO. They are also 30 times more likely to hold these roles than to be chairpersons, a figure that raises critical questions about the pathways available to women in corporate hierarchies.
In another encouraging development, the representation of women in senior management roles has risen to 41%, surpassing the global average of just below 33%. With only about 7% of Irish firms reporting no women in senior management, it seems that the landscape has improved considerably since the previous year. Amanda Ward, co-head of consulting at Grant Thornton, pointed out, “It’s encouraging to see Ireland not only outpacing global trends but also significantly reducing the number of all-male leadership teams. The progress is undeniable.”
However, Ward cautioned that the underrepresentation of women in top executive positions reflects systemic issues that must be addressed. “The true long-term sign of progress will ultimately be if women are equally able to land the top job,” she stated.
The report also highlights the importance of gender balance to both prospective and existing employees in today’s job market. Notably, one in seven respondents indicated that they would inquire about a company’s gender balance during recruitment processes, underscoring a growing transparency demand surrounding gender equality commitments. Almost half of the employees surveyed stated they felt enhanced equal treatment at work due to existing gender equality strategies.
In light of these findings, it is imperative that businesses move beyond superficial diversity initiatives. Ward elaborated, “The research shows that gender diversity is not a box-ticking exercise. Prospective employees are increasingly asking about the gender balance of senior leadership teams and looking for tangible evidence of equality commitments before accepting roles.” Firms that embrace meaningful gender equality strategies not only bolster their leadership efficacy but can also anticipate improved long-term outcomes.
Steve Tennant, managing partner at Grant Thornton Ireland, echoed these sentiments, asserting that businesses are now judged more rigorously by their commitments to gender diversity by customers, investors, and talent alike. “Expectations have moved on – customers, investors, and talent increasingly judge firms on the seriousness of their commitment to gender diversity. This isn’t optional. Organisations that fail to act will fall behind,” he warned, emphasising the necessity for sustained efforts to break the glass ceiling.
As the corporate world continues navigating these dynamics, one related statistic remains telling: in countries with higher percentages of women in executive roles, overall company performance tends to improve, highlighting the strategic importance of gender diversity.
For more insights, visit the original source Silicon Republic.
