You may be aware of a blog that I put out weekly called CFO Moves. This blog is the most comprehensive report of CFO Movement across the United States. (We also have CFO Moves Canada and CFO Moves UK). In the past year, CFO Moves announced over 1,000 new CFOs that were hired, not counting those that resigned or were promoted beyond the CFO chair.
Last July we issued our very popular blog with the most popular names of CFOs hired, and this year we decided to do the same. (You can check out our 2012 edition here).
So, if your company hired a new CFO in the past 12 months, there is a good chance your CFO may have on of the following first names.
Men
- Michael / Mike
- John / Jonathan
- David / Dave
- James / Jim
- Steve / Steven / Stephen
Women
- Catherine / Katherine
- Susan
- Patricia
- Jennifer
- Christine / Christina
There was only one change in the top 5 for men (Jim replaced Mark) since last year, but for the women, the only one of 2012’s top CFO names that stayed in the top 5 was Christine.
The list says it all
The glass ceiling still exists for people of non European backgrounds as well as for women.
Thanks for confirming what we already knew.
I respect what you’re saying Jim, but I disagree.
The list included people with names of all origins. I do not see sex or race as a limiting factor on the race to the CFO chair.
I do see the fact that there are more white men in America ready to take the CFO chair (or having been CFO before) as a key (but not the only) driver as to why there are more white men being hired as CFOs.
I do see a good number women and “non-Europeans” (as you call them) getting to the CFO chair. I also see many companies that want diversity in their executive suite so long as they hire the best CFO / Executive for their needs.
I addressed this in my blog post last year “Why are 87% of CFOs male?” http://blog.dergelcfo.com/2012/08/02/why-are-87-of-cfos-male/
Thanks for your input,
Samuel
Sam,
I agree with Jim, and disagree with you. As a caucasian male (“white” is not skin colour – your skin is not the colour of white paper).
The reason you see this is because of the “old” boys clubs. I’ve seen first hand more competent women, and men of other backgrounds turned away from jobs. In their place they hire men from the old boys club.
People have said if your name wasn’t “Rachel, Raoul, Vishal, or whatever it is you could go ahead. Diversity is important your article is implying that only people of anglo-saxon backgrounds can move ahead.
Times have changed sammy. You must keep up with the times.
Your article was also published by another person a few months back, I see you haven’t sited those sources!
Laura,
Thanks for your comments and your feedback.
I certainly do understand that prejudice exists in hiring. I do not condone it, nor do I want to minimize the impact on people.
The entire reason for me bringing this up for discussion is to engender discussion on the topic. There is no one correct point of view, and people have their own perspectives.
Laura, I do not appreciate you saying that I do not or have not been keeping up with the times. I find that disrespectful. I understand that I may have hit a nerve, and I respect your point of view. If you would like to discuss this further offline, please email me.
With regards to an article that you say was published elsewhere by someone else, please let me know what you are referring to. I am unaware of any instances where I have not cited sources properly.
Regards,
Samuel
The above posters have no idea what they are taking about.
The reason most boards are “white” is a historical fact at least in Canada. It does not have anything to do with Ethnic background. I don’t use the term race as we are one race the human race.
Look at the CEO of Rogers who was also the previous CFO etc they were not white. This is hog wash.
I think the names term may have set a tone for some people who think and in some cases rightly so colour places a role. This is becoming less so.
Merit not name or colour should not play a role. It still does I admit but this is going away due to the global market place.
Perhaps an article on people who got their posts based on merit rather than daddy giving you they keys to they company etc would be a good idea.