In this year's edition of the Spencer Stuart Houston Board Index, we examine the data and trends in board composition, board practices and compensation for 86 publicly traded Houston-based companies. These findings provide a unique perspective on the evolution of governance reform and its impact on Houston boards.
Some highlights from this year's index include:
- Area companies added 10 women to boards, but the percentage of female directors in the Houston area still lags significantly behind the S&P 500, 7.5% versus 16%. 49% of Houston-area boards have at least one female member, compared with 91% of S&P 500 companies.
- Houston boards added 49 new independent directors, the highest total since 2006.
- Half of companies in the index split the roles of CEO and chair. This puts Houston ahead of the S&P 500, where only 41% separate the roles.
- 60% of Houston-area boards have a mandatory retirement age. Seven years ago, only six companies had such a requirement.
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