DALLAS, March 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimberly-Clark has been named one of the 2019 NAFE Top Companies for Executive Women by the National Association for Female Executives. NAFE and Working Mother continue to explore what keeps women from the top while highlighting the successes at these trailblazing companies.

"At Kimberly-Clark, we know there is a tremendous benefit to our business when our employees and leaders reflect the diversity and qualities of our customers and consumers," said Scott Boston, Chief Human Resources Officer. "Further, we want women to know that Kimberly-Clark is a company where they can reach their full potential."

The NAFE Top 70 Companies, released today, is featured in the April/May issue of Working Mother. Kimberly-Clark was also named to the list in 2018.

The annual list recognizes U.S. corporations where there is a strong focus on advancing women into senior leadership, including mentoring, sponsorship, involvement in employee-resource groups and leadership-development training. The evaluation also includes a review of benefits, including flexibility, corporate culture, and CEO involvement, that serve to further opportunities for working women.

"In 2019, a woman's journey up the corporate ladder still differs from a man's, but the Top Companies stand out in their application of remedies," says NAFE president Dr. Betty Spence. "They are models of how to progressively move women into senior roles, as reflected in their strong representation in the leadership ranks."

Highlights of the 2019 NAFE Top 70 Companies include:

• Female representation among CEOs at the NAFE Top 70 companies increased five percentage points to 19 percent this year, outpacing the S&P 500 at 4.7 percent.
• The percentage of women on the boards of directors at the NAFE Top 70 companies increased two points to 32 percent, up from 30 percent in 2018. S&P 500 held steady year over year at 21 percent.
• Female executives responsible for divisions worth more than $1 billion increased from 21 percent to 26 percent in the past year. 

Methodology: The 2019 NAFE Top 70 Companies application includes more than 200 questions on topics including female representation at all levels, but especially the corporate officer and profit-and-loss leadership ranks. The application tracks and examines how many employees have access to programs and policies that promote advancement of women and how many employees take advantage of them, plus how companies train managers to help women advance. To be considered, companies must have a minimum of two women on their boards of directors, a U.S.-based CEO, and at least 1,000 U.S. employees.

About NAFE
The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), founded in 1972, serves members with networking, tools, and solutions to strengthen and grow their careers and businesses. Working Mother magazine publishes the annual NAFE Top Companies list. NAFE.com provides up-to-date information, a community for women in business, and access to member benefits. NAFE is a division of Working Mother Media, owned by Bonnier Corporation.

About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people's most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what's important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Viva and WypAll, hold the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build stronger communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company's 147-year history of innovation, visit kimberly-clark.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

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SOURCE Kimberly-Clark