Global study highlights gender gap in fund management industry
The alternative asset management industry continues to be male dominated with few exceptions according to a new global study.
Women make up just 19% of alternative asset management firm employees (excluding admin and support staff) and their representation is higher at junior levels (29%). For senior roles, women make up just 11% with less than 5% at board level.
The findings from research firm Preqin show that women fare better in investor relations and marketing teams; in venture capital teams the share is as high as 53%.
In investment teams though, women make up smaller shares, as low as 10% for hedge funds.
“The low representation of women at alternative assets firms is an issue that has seen increasing attention over recent years,” said Amy Bensted, Head of Hedge Fund Products. “Traditionally a male-dominated industry, the proportion of female employees across the industry is significantly less than 50%, with only investor relations teams in some asset class approaching or surpassing a rate of equal representation.”
North American figures show that Canada and the US are broadly in line with the rest of the world for female representation.
Women in North America make up the largest share (22%) of employees in real estate investment teams globally, and lead for representation in venture capital teams (21%).
Women constitute 17% of North American private equity fund management employees, 19% for hedge funds, 19% for infrastructure, 19% for natural resources, and 18% for private debt.
Amy Bensted says the disparity between women in junior and senior roles is a matter that warrants close monitoring by commentators and industry bodies in the coming years.
“The disparity in the rates of junior and senior female staff shows that progression through the industry remains rarer for women than for men. This contrasts sharply with institutional investors; women constitute one in five senior staff at public pensions, and more than one in three at foundations,” she said.
Women make up just 19% of alternative asset management firm employees (excluding admin and support staff) and their representation is higher at junior levels (29%). For senior roles, women make up just 11% with less than 5% at board level.
The findings from research firm Preqin show that women fare better in investor relations and marketing teams; in venture capital teams the share is as high as 53%.
In investment teams though, women make up smaller shares, as low as 10% for hedge funds.
“The low representation of women at alternative assets firms is an issue that has seen increasing attention over recent years,” said Amy Bensted, Head of Hedge Fund Products. “Traditionally a male-dominated industry, the proportion of female employees across the industry is significantly less than 50%, with only investor relations teams in some asset class approaching or surpassing a rate of equal representation.”
North American figures show that Canada and the US are broadly in line with the rest of the world for female representation.
Women in North America make up the largest share (22%) of employees in real estate investment teams globally, and lead for representation in venture capital teams (21%).
Women constitute 17% of North American private equity fund management employees, 19% for hedge funds, 19% for infrastructure, 19% for natural resources, and 18% for private debt.
Amy Bensted says the disparity between women in junior and senior roles is a matter that warrants close monitoring by commentators and industry bodies in the coming years.
“The disparity in the rates of junior and senior female staff shows that progression through the industry remains rarer for women than for men. This contrasts sharply with institutional investors; women constitute one in five senior staff at public pensions, and more than one in three at foundations,” she said.
