40% of company bosses in favour of executive gender quotas

A new survey has found that more companies are slightly more in favour of fulfilling of gender quotas.

The study carried out by Harty International shows that 40% of bosses are in favour of the idea while 37% say having to fulfil the criteria is not top of their agenda.

John Harty, Managing Director of Harty International, said a lot of companies don't like the restrictions of having to meet a balance between male and female executives places on their recruitment choices.

"First of all I don't think they'd like the restriction, and second of all I think you're going to have a situation where organisations are going to look at only female appointees as opposed to the right individual for the organisation.

I think it's important to bring diversity and balance at the boardroom table into the process, but not as the first step."