WASHINGTON, DC-- The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) unveils the findings of its 2007 Corporate Governance Study. The study measures Hispanic inclusion on the boards of Fortune 500 companies.

The Hispanic imprint on American culture and business is undeniable. As the largest and fastest-growing minority community in the United States, Hispanics represent 14 percent of the population and one out of every eight employees in the labor force. For Corporate America, the growth in the Hispanic population has meant an opportunity to profit from the community’s expanding purchasing power, a hefty $863.1 billion in 2007. HACR advocates for greater inclusion of Hispanics in Corporate America.



Despite Hispanic community’s growing economic clout, Hispanics remain absent from corporate boardrooms, HACR’s 2007 Corporate Governance Study reveals:



-- Since 2003 there has been a 26 percent rise in the number of Hispanics sitting on Fortune 500 boards.



-- Almost 10 percent of Fortune 500 boards have maintained Hispanic representation for at least a decade.



-- Hispanics held just 3.1 percent of all Fortune 500 board seats in 2006.



-- Hispanic women held just 0.8 percent of all Fortune 500 seats in 2006.



-- Almost three times as many Hispanics serve on Fortune 500 boards than on Fortune 501-1000 boards.



-- Hispanics serving as board chairs, presidents and/or CEOs in the Fortune 1,000 has increased from 16 to 22.



-- Just two companies in the Fortune 500 had three or more Hispanic board members.



-- Only 1 percent of executive officer positions were held by Hispanics.



“HACR wishes to thank IBM for its ...