Next cbi head should be a woman - Lord Oakeshott

10.29.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 24th Oct 2005

Lord (Matthew) Oakeshott, a Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson, today calls on the Confederation of British Industry to set an example to industry by replacing outgoing Director-General, Sir Digby Jones, with a woman.

Commenting on the failure of Government efforts to get women into top business positions, Lord Oakeshott said:

"The Government talks the talk on helping women get to the top of business but they've failed.

"The CBI should lead by example.

"Appointing the first woman Director-General of the CBI at £300,000 a year, would send a clarion call to British business that a woman's place is in the boardroom."

In a letter to the head hunter for the job, the Rt. Hon Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone, copied to Sir Digby Jones, Director General CBI, and the Rt Hon Tessa Jowell M.P., Minister for Women, Lord Oakeshott said:

"Over 96% of executive directors of FTSE-100 companies are men and under 4% are women.

"Over the past five years the number of women executive directors has risen by only one - from 13 to 14. Last year it actually fell."