The ECB first set gender targets in 2013, when it set itself the goal of 35 percent female representation in management positions by 2019. It missed that target but set new targets of filling at least half of opening management positions with women in 2020 under new President Christine Lagarde, one of the most prominent champions for female leadership in finance. Lagarde once famously said that the world would be different “if it was Lehman Sisters."

LOL yeah the world would be different all right. It would be much, much worse. And nothing is stopping women from creating a "Lehman Sisters" investment firm. (besides their own incompetence, of course)

Another former senior manager — a woman — acknowledged that the difference in selection rates between men and women is stark, and that she has heard men complaining about their chances. However, she added that in her experience, “women who apply for these jobs tend to be very driven and more driven than men,” explaining at least a part of the disproportional selection rate.

What a fucking joke. This level of gaslighting is almost impressive.

“We recruit and promote based on merit and talent,” Murciano said. “Women are less likely to apply for promotions, but conditional on applying, women are more likely to win the campaign. The latter does not appear to be due to positive discrimination, because following promotion women perform better in terms of wage progression than men," she explained, citing ECB research.

"We continue to promote women over men which boosts their salaries higher than men over time, and that proves we're hiring strictly by merit....despite the fact that we have an open policy that explicitly calls for hiring and promoting based on gender."

I don't even know what to say.