Our People, Leadership and Work Culture | Standard Chartered

The Board Diversity Policy (‘the Policy’) sets out the approach Standard Chartered PLC takes to diversity on its Board to ensure that diversity, in its broadest sense, remains a central feature of the Board. The Policy applies to the Board of Standard Chartered PLC. The Global Diversity & Inclusion Policy applies to diversity in respect to all employees.

We have a distinctive footprint and international outlook and a long history of diverse board membership. All Board appointments are based on merit with each candidate assessed against objective criteria, with the prime consideration of maintaining and enhancing the Board’s overall effectiveness.

We strive to maintain a diverse Board recognising the benefits of having a Board made up of individuals with a diverse mix of gender, social and ethnic backgrounds, knowledge, personal attributes, skills and experience. We strive to reflect the Group’s aspirations in relation to its employees and its values and to position the Group as a global leader in these areas. This diversity provides a mix of perspectives which we believe will contribute to the effective Board dynamics.

In order to enhance the Board’s diversity we are committed to:

• increasing the representation of women on the Board with an aim to have at least 40 per cent female representation;
• adopting an ethnicity aspiration of a minimum of 30 per cent from a minority ethnic background;
• ensuring that our Board diversity better reflects the diverse markets in which we operate;
• ensuring that the Board is comprised of a good balance of skills, experience, knowledge, perspective and varied backgrounds;
• ensuring that we consider the Group’s aspirations in relation to disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression;
• only engaging search firms who are signed up to the Voluntary Code of Conduct for Executive Search firms; and
• reporting annually on the diversity of the executive pipeline as well as the diversity of the Board, including progress being made on reaching the Board’s gender and ethnicity aspirations.

José Viñals, Chairman

Download a list of our directors, plus their roles and responsibilities.

Available in English and Chinese.

Further to the announcements by Standard Chartered PLC (the “Company”) on 16 February 2024, Gay Huey Evans and Carlson Tong retired as an independent Non-Executive Directors of the Company with effect from 29 February and 9 May 2024 respectively.  In addition, following the announcement on 11 December 2024, David Conner retired as an independent Non-Executive Director of the Company with effect from 30 December 2024.  

In accordance with section 430 (2B) of the Companies Act 2006, the Company confirms that no remuneration payments will be made by the Company to Gay Huey Evans, Carlson Tong or David Conner after they cease to be independent Non-Executive Directors of the Company, nor will any payment for loss of office be made.