Sustainability | ~ 3 min read

The power of 30%

Marie-Sybille Connan

07/03/2025

To navigate the complexities of the modern economy, it is crucial for companies to foster a diverse and inclusive work environment. Through our leadership roles in the 30% Club Investor Groups in France and Germany, we help our investee companies foster a strong pipeline of talent.

Critical to a company’s long-term success is its ability to attract and retain the best employees from as wide a pool as possible. By recruiting, developing and managing the right people, companies can improve decision-making and long-term financial performance, while spreading employment opportunities more evenly across society. In our commitment to active stewardship, we engage with investee companies to promote well-defined, inclusive policies on managing human capital.

Targeting 30% female representation

AllianzGI co-founded the 30% Club Germany Investor Group in 2023 and has been a member of its French counterpart,¹ including as chair, since 2021. The 30% Club business campaign holds the conviction that 30% female representation in leadership positions is the level at which critical mass is achieved and women’s contributions are heard and valued.

We believe that diversity of minds leads to more innovation, higher resilience, better decisions, greater customer focus and ultimately better business results and performance, which directly benefits our shareholders.

The groups are recognised as a credible force among French and German investee companies. We engage through a data-driven methodology,² asking companies to provide detailed gender diversity data, set targets and measure progress rigorously. Prioritising systemic change over traditional diversity, equity and inclusion policies, we seek continuous strategy assessment and refinement. That means developing organisational structures and processes that reduce biases in hiring and promotions, empower women and support their advancement into senior roles.

Slow but steady progress

Progress towards gender equality varies by country.³ In Europe, we observe progress among French companies with respect to improved disclosure on target setting or gender pay gaps, while Germany remains a laggard with respect to female representation in leadership roles. The longer-term benefit is clear: with more women in executive positions, there will be a bigger pool of female candidates for board positions, and that, we believe, will benefit companies’ future growth paths.

¹ Chaired in 2022 and 2024 and co-chaired in 2023
² 30% Club Investor Group KPI List – Our Reporting Expectations for Corporates. 30-Club-Annual-Report-2023-1.pdf (page 24)
³ Global targets on gender representation are set, where permissible, per local law

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This document is being distributed by the following Allianz Global Investors companies: Allianz Global Investors GmbH, an investment company in Germany, authorized by the German Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin); Allianz Global Investors (Schweiz) AG; Allianz Global Investors UK Limited, authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority; in HK, by Allianz Global Investors Asia Pacific Ltd., licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission; in Singapore, by Allianz Global Investors Singapore Ltd., regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore [Company Registration No. 199907169Z]; in Japan, by Allianz Global Investors Japan Co., Ltd., registered in Japan as a Financial Instruments Business Operator [Registered No. The Director of Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Financial Instruments Business Operator), No. 424], Member of Japan Investment Advisers Association, the Investment Trust Association, Japan and Type II Financial Instruments Firms Association; in Taiwan, by Allianz Global Investors Taiwan Ltd., licensed by Financial Supervisory Commission in Taiwan; and in Indonesia, by PT. Allianz Global Investors Asset Management Indonesia licensed by Indonesia Financial Services Authority (OJK).

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