Hamburg, April 29, 2025 – Today, Beiersdorf AG received the prestigious Women-on-Board Award (WoB Award) from the FidAR – Frauen in die Aufsichtsräte e. V. initiative. The award recognizes companies that not only meet the statutory gender balance requirements, but also set a clear example of diversity and sustainable corporate governance through voluntary initiatives.
Beiersdorf convinced with its inclusive leadership strategy at Executive Board and Supervisory Board level, as well as its clear commitment to equal opportunities. This year’s WoB Award was presented to Barbara Wentzel, Deputy Chairwoman of the Beiersdorf Supervisory Board, by Lisa Paus, the Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, and FidAR President Prof. Dr. Anja Seng at today’s FidAR Forum 2025. The laudatory speech was given by Yvonne Rostock, CEO of CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA, who won the WoB Award in 2024.
“Equal opportunities don’t just happen by chance – they require a clear stance, courage, and consistent action. That’s exactly what we stand for, as we actively shape gender equality,” said Barbara Wentzel in her acceptance speech in Berlin. “On behalf of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board of Beiersdorf, I would like to thank you for the Women-on-Board Award 2025.”
The award is based on the Women-on-Board Index (WoB Index), which FidAR established to regularly analyze listed and co-determined companies, and in which Beiersdorf ranks highly. The assessment takes into account not only the proportion of women in leadership bodies, but also company-specific targets, the implementation of statutory requirements and the quality of reporting.
“Our products are intended for everyone – and that means for diverse consumers. Only when different perspectives come together in our teams, we can develop breakthrough innovations that reach people all over the world,” said Reinhard Pöllath, Chairman of the Supervisory Board. “So, for us, diversity – also in leadership – is not an end in itself, but a recipe for success.”
Beiersdorf has been committed to bringing more women in management positions for many years – and is a pioneer in this regard in the German economy. The company has been listed in FidAR’s Women-on-Board Index since the first survey in 2010. Ranking just 29th back then, Beiersdorf is now one of the frontrunners. With a 58.3% share of women on the Supervisory Board and 42.9% on the Executive Board, the company currently ranks fourth in the WoB Index 185 II. Beiersdorf is ranked first among the currently 100 listed and co-determined companies based on the proportion of women on the Supervisory Board (www.wob-index.de).
Beiersdorf has made significant progress not only in the Executive Board and Supervisory Board, but also in management positions worldwide. “We have reached a gender balance in our management positions since 2023; half of our managers in the Consumer Business Segment are women,” said Nicola Lafrentz, Chief Human Resources Officer at Beiersdorf. “At Beiersdorf, gender balance also goes hand in hand with pay equity, where we have made great progress, too.”
In Germany, Beiersdorf has already been recognized as a Universal Fair Pay Leader by the Fair Pay Innovation Lab (FPI). Companies receive this award if their salary structures do not show significant differences between remuneration of women and men. Beiersdorf has set itself the goal of achieving global certification as Universal Fair Pay Leader for the Consumer Business Segment in 2026.
About the Women-on-Board Award
FidAR, an initiative for more women on supervisory boards, has been presenting the Women-on-Board Award since 2017. The aim is to make the importance of diversity in management positions visible and to motivate companies not only to implement equality by law, but also to think strategically about the future. The Women-on-Board Award 2025 was presented at the FidAR Forum 2025 on April 29 in Berlin. The FidAR Forum is one of the largest conferences for gender balance in management positions in German business.
