By Ian Walker
LONDON--Glencore PLC (GLEN.LN) has appointed Patrice Merrin as
an independent non-executive director of the company, with
immediate effect, marking its first appointment of a woman to the
board.
The Baar, Switzerland-based commodities trader and producer is
the last of the FTSE 100 companies to appoint a woman to its board.
Antofagasta PLC (ANTO.LN) was the second from last after appointing
Vivianne Blanlot, 59, as an independent non-executive director back
in March.
Earlier this year, the U.K. government pointed to progress in
getting more women into company directorships. Women now hold 20.7%
of all board positions in the FTSE 100, up from 12.5% back in 2011.
According to Business Secretary Vince Cable, it would take just 50
more appointments of women for FTSE 100 boards to be one quarter
female, the government's target by next year.
Patrice Merrin is a veteran in the mining industry, working at
Sherritt, a Canadian diversified miner, for 10 years until 2004,
latterly as chief operating officer. She then became CEO of Luscar,
a Canadian thermal coal producer. She is currently a non-executive
director of Stillwater Mining.
Alex MacDonald contributed to this article.
Write to Ian Walker at ian.walker@wsj.com
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