Aviva Plc chief executive Amanda Blanc (pictured) is succeeding Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia as HM Treasury’s Women in Finance Champion.
“This is a huge honour but also a huge responsibility,” commented Blanc on her appointment, which will see the insurance boss spearhead efforts in boosting gender diversity across UK financial services. “Ensuring women have as many opportunities as men in financial services is critical. It’s critical for women. It’s critical to the future of UK financial services.
“And a successful, inclusive, financial services industry is critical to a revitalised UK economy. There are still far too many barriers blocking women’s progress in financial services. We’ve got to work quicker and harder. Now is the time for less talk, more action.”
Currently there are more than 400 signatories to the Women in Finance Charter, spanning 950,000 financial services industry employees.
Meanwhile Gadhia, who was Women in Finance Champion for five years and will remain as Charter advisor, noted: “Five years on, I am proud that the Charter is making a positive difference, but we know that this is just the beginning.
“Firms must continue to treat gender diversity as a business task and focus on building an inclusive culture, particularly as we enter a new normal post-pandemic. I am certain that Amanda will bring fresh ideas and energy to this important task and I wish her well.”
According to the latest Women in Finance Charter review, over 70% of signatories either have already met their targets or are on track to meet them. It isn’t all about numbers, though, asserted Economic Secretary to the Treasury John Glen.
“The Women in Finance Charter isn’t a box-ticking exercise – it requires real change to help talented women to reach their potential and drive forward one of our most important and innovative sectors,” stated Glen. “The last year presented a unique set of challenges and there is still much more to do, so firms must not take their foot off the gas.
“I want to thank Dame Jayne-Anne for inspiring the Charter and encouraging firms representing nearly one million employees to sign up the past five years. I am delighted that Amanda Blanc will now take up the reins and boost our gender diversity agenda in the coming years.”
The Women in Finance Charter was created by HM Treasury in 2016 in response to a review led by Gadhia into women in senior management in financial services.
