Women run a record 11% of Fortune 500 companies in 2026—but the gain came in a year of high-profile exits
A record 55 women, representing 11% of the total, are leading Fortune 500 companies in 2026, marking the highest share in the list's history. Despite this achievement, the year saw several high-profile departures of female CEOs, including Oracle's Safra Catz and Hershey's Michele Buck. The increase in representation is attributed to a steady flow of internal promotions and external hires, with internal advancement being a significant pathway for women to reach top executive positions over the past decade. AI
