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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 from board composition, independent directors to leadership, organization and committees.

Board composition

Audit committee Compensation committee Nominating committee
Sector Companies Average board size Ind. directors Age Tenure Women directors Has 2+ women directors Has 3+ women directors Companies that added 1+ director Diverse women added Diverse men addedTotal diverse directors added Active CEO/chair/president/COO Retired CEO/chair/president/COO First-time director Separate chair/CEO Independent chair Lead/presiding Staggered board Board meetings Committees Mandatory retirement Retirement age Size Meetings Size Meetings Size 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
Health Care 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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