Younger people must be given a place in the boardroom

As organizations face the pressing challenge of navigating multiple interconnected and interdependent crises, the positive value of diversity in the boardroom is becoming increasingly evident. However, while companies have made progress in promoting gender diversity on their boards – or have at least made earnest statements of intent – appointing more youthful board members remains an underutilized opportunity. The average age of a non-executive director in the FTSE 100 last year was 59.9, according to executive search firm Spencer Stuart. The average age of a chairperson was 65.

In today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous business climate, I believe those companies are missing a trick. With the velocity of change in business and society increasing at an exponential rate, boards need to spend less time looking backwards, and more time looking forwards. And if younger people represent the future, the most capable of them should be considered for board…