For years, TDC has been a front runner within diversity management, and we have repeatedly won awards for our efforts. We believe it strengthens our business when we use the diversity among our employees constructively.

In March 2009, TDC was awarded the Female Leadership Forum's Gender Equality Award for our efforts in this area. While the ratios for most areas of diversity management is developing well, women in management are not moving in the right direction in TDC.

Currently TDC has 36 per cent female employees, and we want our women in management  to match the share of female employees in TDC. There are currently 38 per cent women in all leadership positions in TDC, but at top management level, there is only 22 per cent women.

TDC has developed an ambitious plan to ensure more women in top positions and TDC has joined the Danish Ministry for Employment and Department for Gender Equality's 'Charter for women in management', and TDC CEO Henrik Poulsen has been appointed 'Ambassador of Gender Equality' by the Danish Industries Association and the Minister for Gender Equality.

"I am pleased that TDC as one of the biggest players in the private sector is now proposing yet another blow to equality." Minister of Gender Equality, Inger Støjberg.

Initiatives in TDC's plan for more female top executives include:

• Long-term planning of individual career development
• Network building with equal representation of men and women
• Greater focus on work-life balance with campaigns for increased paternity leave
• Modified the meeting culture.