Burberry chief creative Christopher Bailey and HSBC CEO Antonio Simoes top a new list published by professional social network OUTstanding of the Top 100 LGBT business leaders. Virgin head Richard Branson and Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein top the list of top 20 straight allies.

Both lists includes senior executives from some of the world’s biggest brands, including Google, IBM, Nike and Ernst & Young (EY).

OUTstanding’s ‘Top 100’ list has doubled since last year, and now includes three transgender business leaders. Almost a quarter of the list members work within the traditionally less LGBT friendly banking and financial services industry. The technology sector, which has come under fire in recent months for a lack of diversity in its workforce, has made strong progress too – this year, almost three times more list members are from tech companies than in 2013.

However, a report by the Centre for Talent Innovation in 2013 found that over 40 per cent of LGBT employees are not comfortable coming out at work, and a separate survey in 2011 revealed that a shocking 90 per cent of transgender employees have experienced harassment at work. These experiences are having a negative impact on the future generation, with 62 per cent of graduates who have been out at university going back into the closet when they start work.

OUTstanding founder Suki Sandhu said, ‘Our Top 100 list proves you can succeed professionally when you are authentic at work. Self-disclosure is best for employees and for the businesses that support them. Our hope is this list will inspire others to embrace who they are, paving the way for change in the corporate world and society as a whole.’