Slight improvement in ad agency diversity

The survey details the gender and salary split of individuals within agencies by seniority, as well as showing the percentage of BAME employees in agencies.

Improvements are modest: there has been a marginal increase in women in C-suite roles (chair, CEO, managing director or executive management positions) year-on-year, from 30.3% in 2016 to 30.9% in 2017. This compares with 23.3% in 2006, when the industry was first surveyed.

In 2017, 12.9% of employees are from a BAME background, this is up slightly from 12.0% in 2016, but double 2007 levels ( 6.1%).

BAME representation is highest at junior levels where it is 16.4%.

Sarah Golding, IPA president and CEO of CHI & Partners, said: “At first glance the immediate reaction to these figures is that they aren’t where they should be. However, while the rise in diversity doesn’t appear extreme enough or fast enough, nor have we achieved parity at all levels, the actions we are now taking as an industry to improve diversity will inevitably begin to bear fruit and ensure this positive, long-term trajectory continues.”