The Swiss voice in the world since 1935

Proportion of women on boards of directors rises to over 30%

People entering a lift
Going up: The quota of women in the 100 largest listed Swiss companies now stands at 30.8%, up from 28.5% last year © Keystone / Gaetan Bally

The proportion of women on the boards of the largest Swiss companies continues to grow. In addition, CEO salaries are increasingly being scrutinised.

The quota of women in the 100 largest listed Swiss companies (SPI 100) now stands at 30.8%, consulting firm Swipra said on Wednesday after analysing the 2023 annual general meeting (AGM) season. After last year’s AGM season, the figure was 28.5%.

This was also the first time that the legal requirement of at least 30% representation per gender, which will apply from 2026, had been met. The average share of women among the newly elected members of the executive bodies was 34.4%.

CEO remuneration was once again a controversial topic at the shareholders’ meetings – not only because of increasing executive compensation packages, but also because of the different development of salary levels of management and employees, Swipra said.

More

However, according to the analysis, compensation at the highest level has developed differently. The total compensation of CEOs in office for the entire year at the 20 blue-chip SMI companies rose by an average of 13.5% to CHF8.62 million ($9.6 million), while it fell by 13.3% to CHF1.60 million at the other 80 companies, it said. The average bonus payments of CEOs in relation to base salary – often a good indicator of target achievement levels – were a fifth lower in 2023 than in 2022, it added.

The reason for the increase in the compensation of SMI CEOs was often a higher allocation of share-based long-term compensation elements, which was viewed critically by institutional investors overall. According to Swipra, the average percentage of no votes on CEO compensation at SMI companies rose from 16.9% to 28.6%.

For its analysis, Swipra analysed the results of all AGMs of SPI 100 companies that took place between July 1, 2022, and June 14, 2023.

More

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Tourists spent more last year

More

Tourist spending in Switzerland grew in 2024

This content was published on Visitors to Switzerland spent CHF19.6 billion ($23.9 billion) last year, a 2.2% rise compared to the previous year, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) said on Monday.

Read more: Tourist spending in Switzerland grew in 2024
Swiss population remains in a spending mood despite crises

More

Swiss consumer sentiment remains positive despite crises

This content was published on Despite the current tense economic situation, Swiss consumer sentiment remains positive. The Swiss spent more money in May than the previous year, particularly on restaurant visits and leisure activities, as shown by the latest figures released by PostFinance.

Read more: Swiss consumer sentiment remains positive despite crises
Bear kills four sheep near Scuol GR

More

Bear kills sheep in southeastern Switzerland

This content was published on A bear killed four sheep in the Lower Engadine region near Scuol, canton Graubünden, last week. This was the first bear attack on local livestock in four years.

Read more: Bear kills sheep in southeastern Switzerland
Economists lower their expectations for economic growth in 2026

More

Swiss economists lower growth forecast for 2026

This content was published on Experts believe that economic development in Switzerland will be weaker in 2026 than the forecasts made three months ago. They have also lowered their predictions for the current year.

Read more: Swiss economists lower growth forecast for 2026
Fewer and fewer people are attending religious events

More

Survey: more Swiss reject organised religion

This content was published on Fewer people in Switzerland have a religious affiliation and the proportion who practice their religion regularly is steadily declining, a survey finds.

Read more: Survey: more Swiss reject organised religion
Trees cool cities better than previously assumed

More

Study: trees have major cooling effect even in extreme heat

This content was published on Plane trees in cities have an important cooling effect even in extreme heat, according to a new study by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL). 

Read more: Study: trees have major cooling effect even in extreme heat
The panorama of the Battle of Murten is digitised

More

EPFL launches digitised version of Battle of Murten panorama

This content was published on To mark the anniversary of the Battle of Murten on 22 June 1476, the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) has launched a website that offers the public an immersive experience of the huge panorama painting of the historic battle. 

Read more: EPFL launches digitised version of Battle of Murten panorama

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR