The firm-level impact of corporate governance mechanisms on firm performance of listed non-financial companies in Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

There has been increased focus on desirable corporate governance practices linked with improved performance and firm stability. Therefore, this study sought to explore the influence of board factors as the determinants of the firm’s performance. Corporate governance mechanisms included board composition, audit committee features, and ownership, while profitability measured firm performance. The dissertation employed a quantitative research approach, and panel data was compiled from the Tadawul (Saudi Stock Exchange) for the period 2020-2023. Panel regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and firm performance. The research results imply that the board of directors size has a significant positive influence on a firm’s performance, which could suggest that a large board, which in most cases differs in skills and experience, helps in developing strategic decisions that can enhance financial performance. On the other hand, CEO duality, meaning that the CEO is the same as the board chairman, was discovered as having a marginally negative influence on performance. This could be an indication of the problems with excessive concentration of power, hence diminishing the independence and efficacy of the board. Although other governance factors, including audit committee characteristics and ownership structure, were examined, they were not significantly linked to firm performance. Therefore, there may be a need for further studies to validate their influence on the relationship between corporate governance and financial performance in Saudi Arabia. Overall, the study offers significant insights to policymakers and corporate leaders in developing best practices for improving corporate governance in Saudi Arabia.