A global effort to bolster the number of women on corporate boards is taking longer than it should. But the recent performance of companies that lead their peers on this measure may accelerate change.

An MSCI study published this month shows just seven companies in its key global index, comprised of more than 2,500 members, have boards that are dominated by women. But of these seven, more than half have outperformed their industry peers. The list is led by luxury retailer Kering FP, which has seven women on its 11-person board. The Gucci owner has outperformed the entire index as well as the more-specific consumer discretionary index not only on a year-to-date measure, but also since the company added two more female directors in April 2016 to put women in the majority.

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