Catalyst acquires Women On Board Canada

Two organizations dedicated to the advancement of women in the corporate world have come together under one umbrella.

Catalyst, a New York-based organization, has acquired Vancouver-based Women On Board Canada, a mentoring program that promotes the appointment of women to corporate boards.

In making the announcement about the acquisition, Catalyst touted the success of the program which develops a pipeline of women directors by pairing high-potential women with corporate board members. Nearly one-third (32 per cent) of Women on Board alumni have been appointed to for-profit boards, it said.

Catalyst already has a number of board-related initiatives, including:

•Catalyst Research Center for Equity in Business Leadership (an endowed research center).

•Catalyst Accord (inspiring FP500 companies to commit to representational targets for women on their boards).

•Catalyst Corporate Board Resource (for Catalyst member companies, connecting CEO-sponsored women to board opportunities).

“Advancing women to boardrooms is a critical focus for Catalyst in Canada and globally, and we welcome the exceptional expertise that Women On Board brings to Catalyst’s board-related services,” said Deborah Gillis, Catalyst’s chief operating officer. “With companies now looking to take action and diversify their boards with talented women leaders, Catalyst can provide an array of research and solution-based services that provide, in effect, a one-stop resource to help companies increase the representation of women at boardroom tables.”

Patrick O’Callaghan, co-founder of Women On Board and managing partner of Patrick O’Callaghan and Associates, said the program has introduced more women into the boardrooms of corporate Canada since its inception in 2007.

"We are a long-time supporter of Catalyst and now, as an integral part of Catalyst, Women On Board will have an impact on boardroom diversity not just in corporate Canada, but also in boardrooms of corporations around the world."