In the first three months of 2009, 38 percent of new directors were women, according to data complied by quarterly journal Directors & Boards. The 38 out of 101 appointments is the highest number and percentage since the publication began counting in 1994, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Women board appointments have been on the rise over the past two years and spiked in the most recent quarter, says James Kristie, editor of Directors & Boards to WSJ. For all of 2007 and 2008, it averaged about 25 percent; in 2006, it was 18.5 percent.
The recession may also play a role in the rise as perhaps male executives have lost their jobs or are reluctant to take on more board appointments.
Among big firms, Microsoft recently named Maria Klawe, president of Harvey Mudd College to its board; Chiquita Brands International named Kerrii Anderson, former CEO of Wendy’s International; ConAgra Foods named Joie Gregor, who served as assistant to the president for presidential personnel under George W. Bush; and VF Corp. named Juliana Chugg, senior vice president at General Mills.