Debenhams puts two women on its board

Debenhams has heeded the call to get more women in the boardroom, today appointing two female non-executive directors.

Martina King, 49, and Sophie Turner Laing, 48, will take up their places on the department store chain's board at the start of August.

Both are media specialists, with King's previous roles including Yahoo's managing director for Europe and Capital Radio's managing director.

She adds the Debenhams job to non-executive positions at Capita Group, Independent Media Distribution and Johnston Press. Turner Laing is BSkyB's managing director for entertainment and news and previously worked at the BBC. She also co-founded HiT Entertainment, which produces children's TV programmes including Bob the Builder and Angelina Ballerina.

Only 14% of non-executive directors of FTSE 100 companies are female. Business leaders have called for an increase in women in senior roles but limited progress has been made.

Non-executive director Peter Long, chief executive of Tui Travel, is to retire from Debenhams' board after three years.