Women’s representation in senior leadership slips, despite gains in CEO roles

Women are losing ground in corporate leadership, with their share of senior management roles at midmarket companies falling to 32.9% globally in 2026, down from 34% the previous year, according to a new Grant Thornton report. North America saw one of the steepest declines, while Europe remained steady. But there is some good news: Women now hold 23.8% of CEO positions — a more than 2% increase from last year. Meanwhile, nearly 76% of surveyed companies remain committed to gender equality initiatives. However, at the current pace, companies may not achieve gender parity in senior leadership until 2