Overview

• In 2024, average pay for female board members fell 11% to €2.15 million, while male pay edged up 0.4% to €2.27 million.
• The gap was widest in the DAX, where men averaged €3.38 million and women €2.92 million.
• EY analyzed 368 full-year board members across DAX, MDAX and SDAX, including a record 88 women representing 23.9%.
• The firm says weaker corporate performance curtailed bonuses and limited scope for increases.
• Top-paid women included Merck CEO Belén Garijo (€7.6m), Deutsche Bank’s Rebecca Short (€6.5m) and Helen Giza of Fresenius Medical Care (€5.7m).