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The Top 100 CFO Moves Of 2021 From Around The World
New BoardEx Report Reveals High Number of Female CFOs in Growing Economic Sectors
Published by: BoardEx
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The Top 100 GC Moves Of 2021 From Around The World

Published by: BoardEx
Published on:
A recent BoardEx analysis looks at the top 100 GCs appointed in 2021 ranked by their organizations’ market cap.

The legal and compliance market is booming. BTI Consulting Group found that total legal department expenditures had increased 2% in 2021, and the demand for General Counsel talent looks to only continue growing.

A recent BoardEx analysis looks at the top 100 GCs appointed in 2021 ranked by their organizations’ market cap. The BoardEx data shows that 46% of these GCs were appointed externally, which is 16% more than that of the top CFO appointments for 2021. Nearly half of the top GCs appointed in 2021 were female, and just 9% are a part of the BoardEx Diversity Network including Monica Douglas of Coca-Cola Co. and Michele Lau of GoDaddy Inc.

A separate BoardEx study of the GCs within the Fortune 1000 finds those appointed to the top had an average of 23.2 years of professional experience between time spent at a law firm and in the corporate or government sector. US law firm Latham & Watkins have the most Fortune 1000 GCs in their alumni, including one from the top 100 list, Kathryn Ruemmler of Goldman Sachs.

What are teams looking for in a GC? Hunt Scanlon says specific industry experience or business knowledge is a must— but diversity can play a major factor in the CEO and board’s final decision. Data shows that this past year, about 62% of the newly appointed general counsels were either a woman and/or minority respectively.

Top 10 GC Moves of 2021

NameGenderOrganizationRoleSectorCountry/RegionAppointmentDiversity Network
Julie RottenbergFemaleVisaExecutive VP/General CounselSpeciality & Other FinanceUnited StatesInternal 
Richard VermaMaleMastercardGeneral Counsel/Head of Global Public PolicySpeciality & Other FinanceUnited StatesInternalAsian Association Network
Monica DouglasFemaleCoca-ColaSenior VP/General CounselBeveragesUnited StatesInternalBlack Association Network
Todd MachtmesMaleSalesforceGeneral CounselSoftware & Computer ServicesUnited StatesInternal 
David FlavellMalePepsicoExecutive VP/General Counsel/Corporate SecretaryBeveragesUnited StatesInternal 
Karen HaleFemaleNovartisChief Legal OfficerPharmaceuticals and BiotechnologySwitzerlandExternal 
Ann ChaplinFemaleQualcommGeneral Counsel/Corporate SecretaryElectronic & Electrical EquipmentUnited StatesExternal 
Jessica HertzFemaleShopifyGeneral CounselSoftware & Computer ServicesCanadaExternal 
Maria DouvasFemaleRoyal Bank of CanadaChief Legal OfficerBanksCanadaInternal 
Mark NelsonMaleT-Mobile USExecutive VP/General CounselTelecommunication ServicesUnited StatesExternal 

Source BoardEx