Rockland, Mass. (June 18, 2019) – Independent Bank Corp, holding company for Rockland Trust Company, was named a Winning ‘W’ Company by 2020 Women on Boards for achieving at least 20% women on its corporate board before the year 2020. Three seats on the Bank’s board of directors are held by women, including that of Board Chair, a distinction held by less than 5% of publicly traded companies in the United States.
“We are honored to be recognized by 2020 Women on Boards for our commitment to ensuring our board of directors reflects the diversity of our colleagues, customers, and communities,” said Christopher Oddleifson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Independent Bank Corp. “We believe in creating an inclusive environment that respects all individuals and values their relationships with us.”
Winning ‘W’ Companies are cited in the 2020 Women on Boards (2020WOB) annual Gender Diversity Index, which tracks the numbers of corporate board seats held by women among the Russell 3000 index. As of 2018, the percentage of board seats held by women rose to 17.7%, up from 16.0% in 2017. This upward trend represents good progress, but still, half of the Russell 3000 companies have one or no women on their boards.
“We applaud Independent Bank Corp. and their board of directors for engaging the diverse opinions and perspectives of both genders on their board,” said Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, CEO of 2020 Women on Boards. “Studies have shown that the varied perspectives of women are uniquely valuable to corporations and the challenges they face today.”
About 2020 Women on Boards
2020 Women on Boards (2020WOB) is a global education and advocacy campaign committed to building public awareness and momentum towards the goal of achieving at least 20% of all public company board seats to be held by women by the year 2020, the milestone 100th anniversary that commemorates the 19th Amendment, when women won the right to vote. The campaign’s signature programs include the Gender Diversity Directory, a database which tracks the gender composition of company boards, the annual Gender Diversity Index report, and the National Conversation on Board Diversity events held in more than thirty cities each November.
In just nine short years, 2020 Women on Boards has become a respected global brand while building a reputation as a formidable advocate for advancing women to corporate boards. www.2020WOB.com
