Progress toward gender equality in the leadership of Nordic media companies has largely stalled, according to a new mapping by Nordicom. While many company boards have achieved gender balance, this progress has yet to reach executive leadership.
The study examines the 25 largest media companies in the Nordic region and compares the findings with a similar mapping from 2023. The conclusion is clear: Little has changed. Neither the gender composition of boards nor that of management teams shows any significant shift.
– It is noteworthy, and it shows that gender equality is not an issue that resolves itself. It requires continued active governance and accountability, says Ulrika Facht, media analyst at Nordicom and author of the mapping.
Gender Equality Stops at the Boardroom
One of the report’s key findings is that gender balance often ends at board level. Seventeen of the 25 companies meet the 40/60 principle for gender-balanced boards, and women make up an average of 39 per cent of board members.
However, this balance is not reflected in executive leadership. Only nine of the companies are led by a female CEO, and just seven have gender-balanced management teams.
– In several cases, owners have taken steps toward greater gender equality in board appointments, but this does not automatically translate into change in operational management, Facht explains.
CEO Recruitment is Decisive
The study also highlights a strong link between the gender of the CEO and the composition of the management team. Companies led by women are significantly more likely to have gender-balanced executive teams. By contrast, when the CEO is a man, the management team lacks gender balance in 14 out of 16 cases.
– The relationship is clear and consistent over time. CEO recruitment emerges as a decisive factor for gender equality at the highest organisational level, Facht says.
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The full mapping is published in the factsheet Gender balance and the 25 largest Nordic media companies, available here.