WEQUAL-GLOBAL
17.11.2020 15:44:08 CET | Business Wire | Press release
Twenty-four female executives of leading EMEA companies have been identified as having the leadership traits for top level C-suite positions. The WeQual Awards (www.wequal.com/awards ) identify already successful senior women who are one level below C-suite, and are aimed at tackling the slow progress in appointing women to executive roles.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201117005907/en/
A quarter of the winners of previous UK and US WeQual Awards have since been promoted to the executive committees of FTSE and Fortune 500 companies.
“The glass-ceiling concept has been an issue for decades, and the drop-off is steepest just below the C-suite, so I launched WeQual to champion gender equality at the top,” says Katie Litchfield , founder and CEO of WeQual.
The EMEA finalists are from a wide range of sectors and companies, including Orange, Unilever, Schneider Electric, Bayer Consumer Health, ENGIE, KCB Group, Sodexo, Enel Group, L'Oréal, Mondi Group, Bureau Veritas, Standard Chartered, Veolia Environnement, Ericsson, Fresenius Medical Care, AkzoNobel, Ooredoo Qatar, Danone, Aryzta.
The 24 finalists were assessed against seven criteria: Leadership, Cognitive Ability, Integrity, Drive & Resilience, Equality, Knowledge of the Business, and Personal Development. All candidates were assessed blind with no name or company revealed in their application.
Eight executive interviewers will hold 30-minute interviews with the three finalists in their category before each choosing a category winner: Brand Innovation, Commercial Performance, Digital Impact, Finance, Head of Region, People Excellence, Strategy Development, and Transformational Leadership.
The finalists will be announced in December 2020.
Among supporters of the awards are Ann Cairns, Executive Chair of Mastercard and Global Chair of the gender equality campaign group ‘30% Club’; Sir Ian Cheshire, Chairman of Barclays; Dame Inga Beale; and Ron Kalifa OBE of Network International. They are part of a roster of well-known C-suite executives who will now choose eight category winners.
Sir Ian Cheshire says: "These awards are among the first to target women at this level. We believe building awareness of these talented people, as well as connecting them to each other, is an important step in improving diversity at top levels of business.”
This senior group of 24 executives will become members of the WeQual Club and join the existing 72 senior FTSE and Fortune 500 female executives.
(Ends)
Notes to editors
Methodology: The eight assessment questions were developed from a research-based meta-analysis of the factors and characteristics that mark leaders as different from non-leaders (Kirkpatrick and Locke, 1991). They were designed to help the women best describe how they deliver on leadership characteristics and how they are seen by others as a leader, and indeed engage people who see them as fit to lead.
About WeQual
WeQual's mission is to make businesses more inclusive by identifying exceptional women executives and address the gender imbalance across the world's Executive Committees. Katie Litchfield, founder and CEO of WeQual Awards, devised the new platform which calls for women senior executives to build their case as to why they are deserving to be appointed to the Executive Committee.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201117005907/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
From SaaS to OaaS: BearingPoint expands its business model and launches outcome-based marketplace2.7.2026 09:00:00 CEST | Press release
The new BearingPoint Store brings together AI agents, software products, and outcome-based services to help enterprises translate investments into measurable business results, on a trusted, GDPR-compliant foundation. Management and technology consultancy BearingPoint introduces the BearingPoint Store, a new marketplace that enables enterprises to discover, combine, and scale software solutions with a clear focus on business outcomes rather than standalone software. With this launch, the firm expands its product model beyond traditional software toward AI agents and outcome-based services. The Store is a curated destination where enterprises can discover, compare, and adopt solutions designed to deliver measurable business impact. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260702393148/en/ Management and technology consultancy BearingPoint introduces the BearingPoint Store, a new marketplace that enables enterprises to di
EVE Energy Strengthens European Operations Through Compliance, Local Manufacturing, and Regional Services2.7.2026 08:30:00 CEST | Press release
The Smarter E Europe 2026 opened in Munich on June 23 and runs through June 25, gathering global players from the clean energy sector on one of Europe’s most influential trade exhibition platforms. EVE Energy unveiled its Mr. Big Family series, a 6.9+ MWh energy storage system, all-scenario storage solutions, and high-performance EV batteries — showcasing its lithium-sodium dual-technology platform, full product portfolio, and localized European operational layout. During the exhibition, European clients showed strong interest in the company’s product performance and placed strong emphasis on sustained adherence to the EU’s evolving regulatory standards. This industry attitude further underscores that regulatory compliance readiness has become a fundamental prerequisite for accessing the European clean energy market. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260701651416/en/ The BMW iX3 displayed at the EVE Energy booth
Braun Launches the Next Generation of Electric Shaver With Braun NEVO Introducing a New Dawn of Smooth Touch2.7.2026 08:00:00 CEST | Press release
With over 100 years of exceptional German craftsmanship, Braun introduces Braun NEVO, an electric shaver redefining what a close shave and smooth skin mean. Every element has been reimagined: the sleek unibody stainless steel handle, the revolutionary AeroTouch™ Technology and advanced personalized display deliver a perfectly close shave without sacrificing comfort. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260701842080/en/ Braun NEVO Shaver Oliver Grabes, Braun Head of Design, said: “At Braun, we set out to reimagine the shaving experience which led to the development of AeroTouch™ Shaving Technology, a cutting system engineered for ultra-low friction on the skin and high efficiency. This makes Braun NEVO our best shaver* setting a new standard for smooth skin.” Introducing the revolutionary world’s first AeroTouch™ Technology, featuring 250 diamond-sharp cutting edges and an exclusive Ultra gliding foil for a smooth g
Brenus Pharma Strengthens Its Governance With Designation of a New President and Appointment of Former Novo Nordisk EVP as Independent Member2.7.2026 08:00:00 CEST | Press release
Brenus Pharma, today announced key appointments to its board of directors. The company welcomes Eric DESSERTENNE, as President & Chairman of the board, succeeding co-founder Jacques GARDETTE, who will remain an active board member. Eric brings extensive experience in healthcare innovation and value creation, having notably led BIOCORP through its development and acquisition by Novo Nordisk. Brenus also appoints Camilla SYLVEST, as a second independent director, following the earlier addition of Diala EZZEDDINE a seasoned US-based biotech executive and entrepreneur. Camilla SYLVEST is an experienced pharmaceutical executive and global business leader, having spent nearly three decades at Novo Nordisk A/S, where she most recently served as Executive Vice President for Global Commercial Strategy, Corporate Communication and Sustainability. She currently serves on the Boards of Argenx SE, Getinge AB, and Zealand Pharma A/S, and has previously served on the Board of Danish Crown A/S and as
Access Advance and Alibaba Announce Alibaba's Expanded Participation in the VDP Pool2.7.2026 02:00:00 CEST | Press release
Access Advance LLC and Alibaba Group today announced that Alibaba has joined the Access Advance Video Distribution Patent Pool (VDP Pool) as a Licensee, securing a license to the pool's comprehensive coverage of HEVC, VVC, VP9, and AV1 codec technologies. The announcement marks a milestone in a multi-year collaboration between the two companies that spans the VVC Advance Patent Pool, where Alibaba participates as both a Licensor and Licensee, and the VDP Pool, where Alibaba joined as a Licensor in 2025. Alibaba's subsidiary Youku, one of China's leading streaming platforms, also joined the VDP Pool as a Licensee in 2025. Alibaba operates one of the world's most diverse video ecosystems, spanning a wide range of video-based services across e-commerce, entertainment, and digital media. As video has become central to how consumers shop, communicate, and access entertainment, the breadth of Alibaba's video operations reflects the kind of business model complexity the VDP Pool was designed
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom