Dutch telecom giant KPN is launching an affirmative action programme for women in top management posts.

In an interview with the Volkskrant, KPN CEO Ad Scheepbouwer notes the number of women among its top management currently accounts for just 17 percent. The figure, he says, is too low and needs to be raised. As prior attempts to do so have produced little improvement, the company has decided that from now on only women will be considered for certain posts. The company still needs to determine the exact number and nature of the functions. KPN is thought to be the first large company to start an affirmative action policy for women. On Monday Parliament is to discuss a proposal by the Labour Party aimed at boosting the number of women in top management to 30 percent.

Source: Radio Netherlands Worldwide

From FT.com:

• FT top 50 women in world business

From Forbes.com:

• The World’s 100 Most Power Women

A review on the introduction quota of up to 40 percent women in the companies in Norway:

From the Financial Times on June 15, 2009:

• Skirting the Boards by Richard Milne

Equality is enshrined as a principle at the heart of the European Union, yet only about one-third of Euro MPs are women. Gender discrimination remains widespread in Europe.

Here European Commission Vice-President Margot Wallstrom explains why she is campaigning to get more women into senior EU positions. This is part of a viewpoint series ahead of the June European elections.

From BBC News:

• Viewpoint: A fair deal for women

Can women bankers and investment managers get us out of the economic mess that their male colleagues got us into? Will it take women to ensure the future health of the financial sector?

Halla Tomasdottir and Kristin Petursdottir are convinced the answer is yes.

From BBC News:

• The women who want to save banking

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is to be a key driver of sustainable European growth and competitiveness through the stimulation of world-leading innovations with a positive impact on economy and society.

The mission of the EIT is to grow and capitalise on the innovation capacity and capability of actors from higher education, research, business and entrepreneurship from the EU and beyond through the creation of highly integrated Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).

• European Institute of Innovation and Technology

WECF – Women in Europe for a Common Future – has published a Toys Guide which provides tips on choosing toxic-free toys. The practical brochure provides concise information about the most hazardous substances found in toys and what the potential dangers are, and provides concrete tips on how consumers can play it safe when buying toys for children.

• Toys Guide

Article from HarvardBusiness.org:

Europe Invests in Women Leaders – by Sylvia Ann Hewlett.

Sylvia Ann Hewlett is an economist and the founding president of the Center for Work-Life Policy where she directs the “Hidden Brain Drain”—a task force of 35 global companies committed to fully realize female and minority talent. She also heads up the Gender and Policy Program at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University.

Article from Financial Times:

Why women managers shine in a downturn – by Michel Ferrary, professor of management at Ceram Business School, France, expert on gender diversity and stock market performance.