"We see the gentleman behind the great communicator." Thus did Laurence Parisot commented on Monday, the first decision of the boss of Publicis Group, the new President of the French Association of Private Enterprise (Afep, which includes hundreds of large companies including those listed on the CAC 40). Maurice Levy has proposed to his counterpart Medef code to complete their common governance, to promote parity. The text now recommends that boards of directors (or supervisory) have at least 20% of women within three years and 40% by six years, these deadlines will act over the arrival due mandates.Some recommendations that match the proposal passed earlier this year by the Assembly at the initiative of the UMP MP Marie-Jo Zimmermann, with the support group president Jean-Francois Cope, who must still pass the Senate .
But the draft law provides for sanctions, including revocation of appointments of directors who flout the rule. Nothing like it in the code AFEP-MEDEF: all the betting is that firms will not dent their image. This is the principle of "comply or explain" ("comply or explain"), which Maurice Levy thinks it will be very effective: "If the rule is not applied, it should explain why in its annual report and before his shareholders.This is the strongest thing that can be imposed on a board of directors. "This idea of self-regulation had given birth to the code AFEP-MEDEF, allowing companies to avoid legislation on executive compensation (parachutes gilded, stock options …). Similarly, Maurice Levy believes that "the law is no longer necessary" on women directors. Marie-Jo Zimmermann replied "very pleased that companies show their willingness to move forward" but hopes that his bill "continue its path. He took this sword of Damocles that things start to move, we'll see in two or three years if we can remove it.In addition, continued its elected Moselle, my text provides a resolution of the board annually on equality across the company: hiring, pay, career development … ".
Bernadette Chirac at LVMH
"We may not like quotas, but there are circumstances where a little help can ease the situation," said Laurence Parisot, who "companies are at the forefront. We never talk about discrimination suffered by women in top management. The subject is still in the agenda of the "Social Agenda 2010" of Public Service."And we talk enough about the risk of decline with future territorial advisors," says the boss of bosses, the voting could be first past the post, whereas the regional advisers are currently elected on joint lists.
According Afep, women accounted for 10.4% of the directors of the CAC 40 in late 2009, and is expected to rise to 15.7% this year. Carole Lewiner will be ushered to the board of Bouygues, Laurence Dors at Capgemini, Meglena Kuneva at BNP Paribas in Fatine Layt Imeri … Without forgetting Bernadette Chirac at LVMH.
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