Glencore becomes only UK blue-chip without a woman on its board

Glencore Xstrata has become the only blue-chip UK company without any women on its board after Antofagasta, its mining peer, said it would appoint a Chilean former minister as a non-executive director.

The representation of women in boardrooms has become an increasingly politicised issue in the UK and elsewhere. The UK government has set a target of 25 per cent female board membership for FTSE 100 companies and other European countries have introduced or threatened mandatory quotas for the percentage of women represented in senior corporate roles.

One year ago, seven boards in the FTSE 100 were exclusively male.

Women's role in the mining industry has been particularly under scrutiny, because the sector lags behind virtually all others in having female representation in senior roles. Cynthia Carroll was the first woman to lead one of the world's largest mining groups but she stepped down as Anglo American's chief executive early last year.

Antofagasta, one of the oldest companies listed in London, mines copper in Chile. It said on Friday that Vivianne Blanlot, a 59-year-old economist who was formerly Chilean defence minister and earlier the executive director of its national environment commission, had been appointed to its board.

"She brings extensive experience across the energy, mining, water and environmental sectors and I'm sure she will greatly benefit Antofagasta," Jean-Paul Luksic, chairman, said.

Energy and water are key issues for the Chilean mining sector, with shortages of both threatening development of some projects. The country is the world's largest supplier of copper.

Glencore has said it would like to appoint a woman but is searching for suitable candidates.

The commodities group, led by Ivan Glasenberg, is also searching for a permanent chairman. Tony Hayward, the former chief executive at BP who is now in the same role at Genel, is filling the role on an interim basis.

Data published on Wednesday showed that the UK was on course to achieve the government's target of 25 per cent female board membership across FTSE 100 companies by the end of 2015. Women held one in five board seats, with the highest representation being 44 per cent at Capita and Diageo.

Two years ago the figure was one in eight, according to Cranfield School of Management's annual Female FTSE board report. The target was set in 2011.

Worldwide, women have only 7 per cent of directorships at the 500 largest mining companies by market capitalisation, according to a report published this year.

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