nuam joins the global

• On average, women occupy 16% of board positions, 6% of board presidencies, 9% of CEO positions, and 12% of CFO roles.

In honor of Women’s Month, nuam, the holding company that integrates the Santiago Stock Exchange (BCS), the Colombia Stock Exchange (bvc), and the Lima Stock Exchange (BVL), joined the global initiative "Ring the Bell for Gender Equality" led by the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), aiming to promote gender equality and empower women in the workforce and business sector.

During the event, the markets in Chile, Colombia, and Peru opened simultaneously with a symbolic bell-ringing ceremony at the three marketplaces. The event featured the participation of prominent leaders from the public and private financial sectors, as well as executives from industry associations, companies, stockbrokers, and other market participants. This action symbolizes the commitment of the three nuam’s exchanges to inclusion and female leadership in the financial sector.

In 2024, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) conducted a study on 734 issuers from the 10 largest stock exchanges in Latin America. The key findings showed that, on average, women occupy 16% of board positions, 6% of board presidencies, 9% of CEO positions, and 12% of CFO roles.

Issuers from the Colombia Stock Exchange (bvc) lead the region with the highest percentage of women in board positions (20%), issuers of the Santiago Stock Exchange (BCS) ranked sixth (17%), and the Lima Stock Exchange (BVL) ranked seventh (15%); the regional average was16%.

The Santiago Stock Exchange (BCS) saw the greatest increase in the percentage of women in board positions (+6%), non the less Colombia and Peru also showed positive changes with 4% and 2%, respectively. It is important to note that the sample of issuers in Chile and Peru are some of the largest in the region, with 100 listed companies, while Colombia has 58 listed companies.

It must be highlighted that there is a significant effort by the private sector in the region to achieve gender equality, and all three of our countries have seen an increase in all categories (board positions, board presidencies, and CEO positions). This reflects not only the effort of the private sector but also a changing world that demands more diversity and inclusion to represent its interests.

However, there are multiple opportunities for improvement and much progress to be made. For example, although all-male boards do not exceed half in the three countries, numbers are still high. Peru is the country with the highest percentage of all male representatives on its boards, with 45%, followed by Colombia and Chile, with 26%, respectively.

During the event, the importance of addressing systemic barriers limiting women’s participation in leadership positions was highlighted. The discussion focused on analyzing the progress and challenges related to the inclusion and leadership of women in the financial sector.

The conversation covered how the inclusion of women in decision-making positions enriches organizational perspectives, fostering innovation, improving performance, and promoting economic growth and financial stability in countries.

The session also addressed the weaknesses of the system that perpetuates inequality, representing significant barriers to achieving greater female participation in the sector. Initiatives and opportunities to increase women’s participation and foster their empowerment were discussed, aiming to redefine power structures and ensure inclusive access to leadership and decision-making spaces.

“The 'Ring the Bell for Gender Equality' is a tradition that has been developed for years across the three exchanges. However, this is the first time we do it together as nuam, and I am proud to see our exchanges coming together to highlight the importance of gender equality and to promote women’s empowerment in the financial industry, as fundamental pillars for driving innovation and growth in the sector. Undoubtedly, together, we are stronger,” said Juan Pablo Córdoba, CEO of nuam.

Carlos Barrios, Senior Sustainability Manager at nuam, stated: "This event reaffirms nuam and its subsidiaries' commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women in the financial sector, recognizing that diversity and inclusion are essential to fostering innovation and representative thinking in organizations, which in turn promotes sustainable development and economic growth in the region. We need all market players to understand the importance of creating long-term value. Today, we want to communicate our commitment to gender equality, while also promoting and sharing best practices and providing a platform for the leaders driving this change in the industry."