There is a common misconception that companies are only willing to promote women to the executive and board levels of companies. Yet, in corporate Switzerland this couldn’t be further from the reality, a report finds.

In 2022 competence and expertise were the key drivers for hiring people to the executive committee of companies listed on the Swiss stock exchange, a report by executive search boutique Witena found.

Besides looking at the number of appointments to the board of directors and the executive committee, the report focused on the professional background of those promoted.

Sales experience was key for professionals aiming for the highest echelons of an organization, with front-end experience often being a prerequisite to go on to lead a division of a company. And in turn, many divisional heads are later promoted to the executive board.

Profit & Loss

For male candidates having had responsibility for the bottom line of a division at the group executive level was almost a prerequisite for nomination to the board of directors. P&L experience was however less essential for women for board directorship. For women, the path via non-P&L roles is «still open,» the report said.

A total of 17 chairmanships were filled last year, two of which were by women. The disproportion in gender has its origins in the early steps on the career ladder as the sparse number of female CEOs translates into a lack of female candidates available for chair positions later on.

Delayed Effect

«As the war for talent progresses, the low proportion of females in the talent pipeline should be a concern,» Witena partner Oliver Berger told finews.com. A good first step is to get more women selling company products and services, whereby marketing experience does not count, he added.

Gender was only one criterion among many in the recruiting process, «the report clearly quashes the notion that only women are promoted into the top roles of Swiss companies,» Berger said. 

Witena's Market Intelligence Report 2022 will be made available on the company's website in the week beginning February 27.