17-3-2024 (BANGKOK) Thailand has secured the third spot globally among 28 surveyed countries with the highest number of senior female business executives, according to a recent survey conducted by Grant Thornton, a UK-based global accounting firm. The Philippines claimed the top position in the survey, showcasing the highest number of women in senior management roles.
Grant Thornton revealed that 43% of top executive positions in Philippine companies were held by women. Thailand, along with two other Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia (seventh) and Indonesia (10th), also made it to the rankings.
The survey, conducted in the fourth quarter of 2023, involved interviews with 4,891 medium-sized companies, 90% of which had between 50 to 2,500 employees. The survey spanned across Asia, Europe, and America, encompassing various top executive roles ranging from CEOs and chief operating officers to board members and heads of finance departments.
Grant Thornton highlighted that Filipino companies consistently ranked high or near the top in their surveys, securing the second position in 2023, fourth in 2022, and first in both 2021 and 2020.
In Thailand, 41% of top executive positions were occupied by women. The survey further revealed that 42% of Thai companies had female CEOs or managing directors, the highest proportion among all 28 countries surveyed.
The top 10 countries with the highest percentage of companies featuring female top executives are as follows: 1. Philippines – 43.1%; 2. South Africa – 42.0%; 3. Thailand – 41.0%; 4. Turkey – 41.0%; 5. Nigeria – 40.6%; 6. Spain – 40.3%; 7. Malaysia – 39.6%; 8. Australia – 39.6%; 9. France – 37.9%; 10. Indonesia – 37.4%.
