Sweden: Female CEOs run companies with lower profit margins

Företagarna’s CEO Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist

“Companies headed by a female CEO have a lower profit margin on average than companies headed by a male CEO, according to a report by the national small business association Företagarna. The business association Företagarna has reviewed 125,000 Swedish business and found that companies with a female CEO had a profit margin of 7 percent on average, whereas the same number for male CEOs was 8.4 percent.” (Radio Sweden)

As surprising as this result might be for some, so predictable is some of the rationale: “The difference may also reflect how different men and women are treated in business negotations.”

I am curious if and how this will be discussed within the HR community.