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December 2020

Sector Comparison Chart

2020 U.S. Spencer Stuart Board Index

The U.S. Spencer Stuart Board Index examines the latest data and trends in board composition, board governance practices and director compensation among S&P 500 companies.

We have compiled key data from each S&P 500 sector into our Board Index Sector Comparison Chart below, where you can compare aggregated data by sector across a wide range of measures, including board composition, independent director representation, board leadership, organization and committees.

Board composition

Audit committee Compensation committee Nominating committee
Sector Companies Average board size Ind. directors Average age Average tenure Women directors Has 2+ women directors Has 3+ women directors Companies that added 1+ director Women added Minority men addedTotal diverse directors added Active CEO/chair/president/COO Retired CEO/chair/president/COO First-time directors Separate chair/CEO Independent chair Lead/ presiding director Staggered board Average board meetings Average committees Mandatory retirement Average retirement age Average size Average meetings Average size Average meetings Average size Average meetings
Communication Services 22 10.4 80% 60.6 7.2 28% 82% 50% 55% 45% 10% 55% 15% 10% 15% 55% 18% 77% 14% 8.6 3.9 36% 73 3.8 7.5 3.9 6.3 3.7 4.4
Consumer 95 10.8 84% 61.8 8 31% 94% 76% 46% 48% 14% 62% 17% 18% 27% 61% 33% 71% 7% 7.4 4 73% 73.1 4.3 8.1 4.1 5.7 4.5 4.5
Energy 27 10.4 87% 64.5 7 23% 89% 40% 52% 25% 8% 33% 8% 29% 17% 48% 33% 70% 7% 8.5 4.1 85% 73.9 4.6 7.3 4.4 5.3 5.1 4.3
Financials 65 11.9 87% 64.2 8.5 29% 98% 88% 57% 40% 10% 50% 10% 20% 42% 40% 31% 78% 5% 9 4.9 74% 73.7 5 10.1 4.7 6.2 4.6 5.3
Healthcare 59 10.4 86% 63.3 8 29% 90% 49% 56% 51% 12% 63% 14% 10% 27% 54% 39% 71% 20% 7.8 4.3 63% 73.8 4.1 9 4 6.1 4.2 4.5
Industrials 97 10.4 86% 63.1 8 27% 96% 58% 57% 49% 13% 62% 15% 14% 28% 49% 33% 71% 13% 7.9 4 85% 73.8 4.6 7.9 4.6 5.3 4.7 4.3
IT 70 9.8 85% 62.2 7.5 26% 95% 49% 56% 52% 14% 66% 12% 15% 28% 73% 46% 64% 10% 8.1 3.7 56% 73.5 4.1 8.6 3.9 6.9 3.9 4.4
Real Estate 31 10.3 83% 64.4 9.5 28% 100% 68% 55% 59% 5% 64% 14% 9% 41% 61% 35% 81% 3% 6.6 3.8 45% 74.3 4.2 7.5 4.3 4.6 4.2 3.5
Utilities 28 11.5 88% 64 7.6 29% 100% 90% 71% 36% 18% 54% 25% 21% 11% 50% 29% 86% 4% 8.7 5.2 89% 73.4 5 6.9 4.8 5.9 4.6 5.1
Grand Total 494 10.7 85% 63 7.9 28% 95% 67% 55% 47% 12% 59% 16% 19% 28% 55% 34% 73% 10% 7.9 4.2 70% 73.6 4.4 8.2 4.3 5.9 4.4 4.5
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