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Sexism was pervasive in finance, says Virgin Money boss Sexism was pervasive in finance, says Virgin Money boss
(about 1 hour later)
Virgin Money boss Jayne-Anne Gadhia has told MPs that sexism was "pervasive" in the "very male culture" of finance.Virgin Money boss Jayne-Anne Gadhia has told MPs that sexism was "pervasive" in the "very male culture" of finance.
Ms Ghadia spoke of one example from her time at Royal Bank of Scotland when a senior woman was very upset because she was "expected to sleep with her boss". Ms Gadhia spoke of one example from her time at Royal Bank of Scotland when a senior woman was very upset because she was "expected to sleep with her boss".
She was speaking to MPs as part of their inquiry into women in finance.She was speaking to MPs as part of their inquiry into women in finance.
Ms Ghadia, who was at RBS from 2001 to 2007, added that the financial sector was now better at dealing with the inequality between men and women. Ms Gadhia, who was at RBS from 2001 to 2007, added that the industry had improved at dealing with sexism in the workplace.
Parliament's Treasury Committee is looking at the barriers for women in financial services and the value of greater gender balance.Parliament's Treasury Committee is looking at the barriers for women in financial services and the value of greater gender balance.
It comes as the allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein have shone a spotlight on sexual harassment in industries worldwide.It comes as the allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein have shone a spotlight on sexual harassment in industries worldwide.
Women and men have been sharing their stories across social media using the hashtag "me too" to show the magnitude of the problem.Women and men have been sharing their stories across social media using the hashtag "me too" to show the magnitude of the problem.
'Pervading sexism''Pervading sexism'
Ms Ghadia, who is a government champion for women in finance, told the Treasury Committee: "There was a very male culture and I've talked previously about part of that being the sort of win-lose culture. Ms Gadhia, who is a government champion for women in finance, told the Treasury Committee there had been a "very male culture" at RBS which was "win-lose".
"Undoubtedly there was a pervading sexism where I remember a very senior woman being very upset one day telling me that she was expected to sleep with her boss. "Undoubtedly there was a pervading sexism where I remember a very senior woman being very upset one day telling me that she was expected to sleep with her boss," she said.
"That sort of thing of course means that there are issues for women in progressing through financial services." "That sort of thing of course means that there are issues for women in progressing through financial services," she said.
She also spoke of an experience from her own career, when she was rebuffed from a promotion in 1994 at the insurer Norwich Union, now Aviva.She also spoke of an experience from her own career, when she was rebuffed from a promotion in 1994 at the insurer Norwich Union, now Aviva.
"I was told by a very senior person at Norwich Union then, you have not got the characteristics necessary to lead a sales force," she told MPs."I was told by a very senior person at Norwich Union then, you have not got the characteristics necessary to lead a sales force," she told MPs.
"And I said, what's that? He said the two things you're missing are a thick skin and a load of bull.""And I said, what's that? He said the two things you're missing are a thick skin and a load of bull."
RBS has been approached for comment. While Ms Gadhia did not consider the remark to be sexist at the time, she said: "There was a definite alpha-maleness about that which I've never forgotten."
'Powerful'
In a government review last year, Ms Gadhia recommended that financial services firms should aim for greater equality in pay and to publish progress reports on diversity targets.
More than 140 financial firms - including RBS and Aviva - have signed the Women in Finance charter that came out of her review.
She told MPs on Tuesday that the industry had improved, and picked out two key areas which she said were "powerful".
Women are keener to talk about their own experiences, and men are backing efforts for more equality, she said.
She added that closing the gap between men and women would help to make UK businesses more productive.
RBS and Aviva have been approached for comment.