There have been calls for more to be done to increase the number of investing roles held by women at private equity firms.
IQ-EQ, an investor services company, has released its second Sustainability Report looking at challenges that exist in diversity, equity, and inclusion in the asset management industry.
It showed just 23 per cent of all investing roles are held by women at private equity firms globally.
Caroline Bagshaw, group chief people officer at IQ-EQ said promoting women in the sector starts with breaking down barriers.
The firm said it has increased the representation of women in its global management team to 40 per cent, up from 10 per cent in 2021.
Bagshaw said: "Fuelling female success in this sector starts with breaking down barriers, working towards achieving pay parity across genders, and improving the ratio of women in senior-level management positions.
"Our sustainability journey is far from over. We remain dedicated to advancing our DE&I initiatives and moving the needle in this sector.”
The firm said it wants to support female fund managers to launch and build their funds.
This is partly done through the IQ-EQ Launchpad, which started in 2022, an initiative designed to help first-time female fund managers.
It includes support for women fund managers with tailor-made training and knowledge sharing
The firm's wider sustainability goals were outlined in the report, which included news that in 2023, IQ-EQ achieved the EcoVadis gold medal, placing it in the top 5 per cent of companies globally for its environmental, social, and governance practices.
tara.o'connor@ft.com
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