Asia has leapt in front of Europe and North America in terms of the proportion of women in senior positions in the private equity industry, according to new figures.

The figures show a slight rise in the share of top roles held by female executives worldwide, up from 8.9% in 2011 to 9.8% this year. But the rise was slowest at buyout firms in Europe and North America, who have now fallen behind their Asian counterparts, show the figures from data provider Preqin.