Women Now Hold 25% of DAX Board Positions, Marking Record High

The share of women in top management of Germany's largest companies has doubled since 2020, but challenges remain with shorter tenures and underrepresentation in some firms.

The proportion of women on DAX company boards rose to 25.4% in 2024, up from 23% the previous year and 13% in 2020, according to a Russell Reynolds analysis.
For the first time, three DAX companies are led by female CEOs: Bettina Orlopp (Commerzbank), Karin Rådström (Daimler Truck), and Bélen Garijo (Merck).
Despite progress, women in board positions tend to have shorter tenures than men, with many leaving their roles within three years and often not transitioning to new executive positions.
Commerzbank and Siemens Healthineers lead in gender parity with 50% female board representation, while Porsche SE remains the only DAX company with no women on its board.
Germany's 2022 law mandating at least one woman on boards with more than three members has accelerated progress, but critics highlight the need for stronger internal talent pipelines to sustain long-term representation.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung