Kerala's corporate boardrooms still devoid of women at helm

Patriarchal societal norms cited as reason for fewer women leaders

- ANU KURUVILLA @Kochi

FROM Kerala to the Corner Office! Priya Nair becomes the first woman MD & CEO of Hindustan Unilever Ltd in its 92-year history!

The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) was quick to celebrate the moment on social media. Hailing Priya as a Malayali achiever, the Facebook post proudly declared that she had "just shattered the glass ceiling at India's largest FMCG company."

While Priya's elevation to the top job at HUL made headlines across India, it also cast a sharp light on Kerala's own corporate boardrooms, where women at helm remain glaringly absent.

Take a look at the over 30 listed companies headquartered in Kerala — Federal Bank, South Indian Bank, Dhanlaxmi Bank in the financial sector; Muthoot and Manappuram in gold finance; or Kitex Garments, V-Guard, Geojit Financial, Wonderla, and Kalyan Jewellers. Not one of them is headed by a woman.

Recently, Shalini Warrier, a senior banker and former executive director of Federal Bank, was seen as a strong contender for the MD & CEO position at the Aluva-headquartered bank. But in the final round, she was overlooked.