Fewer women in executive roles than men named John

For every woman Chief Executive of a S&P 1500 firm in the US there are four men named John, Robert, William or James.

A study by Ernst & Young has inspired economist Justin Wolfers to create a ‘Glass Ceiling Index’ for the New York Times. An index value above one means that Jims, Bobs, Jacks and Bills — combined — outnumber the total number of women bosses.

It compares how many women hold positions at the top of a company, compared to the number of men with these names.