FA looking to diversify its board with new directors

The Football Association is looking to diversify its board by adding two new independent non-executive directors.

The Football Association announced today, Thursday, October 21, that it is looking to diversify its board by adding two new independent non-executive directors.

The board has unanimously recommended changes to its own structure by increasing board members from 10 to 12, which the FA Council and shareholders have now approved, in order to add diversity at board level.

At the moment, the board has nine members, three of these are female, one is from the LGBTQ+ community and two are non-white.

In January, Debbie Hewitt will become the governing body’s first female chair in 158 years and bring the number of board members up to 10.

The extra two independent non-executive directors are due to be appointed during the first quarter of 2022.

Acting chair Peter McCormick, who is one of three professional game representatives on the board, said: “The proposed change of the board’s composition demonstrates the FA’s commitment to independent scrutiny.”

“It will also provide the opportunity to bring individuals onto the board with complementary skills to the existing board directors.”

The board was in the spotlight in July 2020 when the former chair, Greg Clarke, initially said the professional game representatives blocked a review that aimed at making it more diverse.

He later said this was a “misunderstanding” and added: “I recognise now that the views held by the members of the board were not as they first appeared, and that all parties do support a review of FA board diversity.”

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