Board Ethnic Diversity Research Articles

The Impact of Board Ethnic Diversity on Firm Performance: Evidence from Public Listed Firms in Malaysia

This paper examines the impact of board ethnic diversity on firm performance (FP) as well as the interacting effects of board independence and board meeting attendance. Unlike prior local research which mainly studied Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera (Malays and non-Malays) directors, this paper views the board from the perspective of diversity. We hand-collected the directors' details and identified them as Malay, Chinese, Indian or other ethnics directors. Using panel data analysis of public listed firms in Malaysia, this paper reveals that diverse ethnic directors in the board increase FP only if more than half of the board consists of independent directors. The finding suggests that when the board is independent, this effectively functioning board allows the diverse ethnic directors to participate in the board activities and make decision that ensure the benefits of all stakeholders, which ultimately increase FP.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF MOBILE SERVICE PROVIDERS IN KENYA: A CASE OF AIRTEL KENYA LTD

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of corporate governance on financial performance of mobile service providers in Kenya in the case of Airtel Kenya.Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive research design where a case study was conducted. The target population comprised of all the 96 employees in the top and middle level management working with Airtel Kenya Ltd within Nairobi. The study used primary data collected using a questionnaire. The study used multiple regression analysis. The statistical software used to run the multiple regression was SPSS.Results: The study findings revealed that board members’ experience, their educational qualifications and board ethnic diversity had a positive and significant effect on the financial performance of the firm. Board size, however was found to have a negative but significant effect on the financial performance of the firm. Board gender diversity though had a positive effect on the financial performance of the firm; this effect was found to be insignificant. Financial leverage was also found to moderate the relationship between corporate governance and financial performance of the firm.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: Based on the responses given by the individuals in the two management levels participating in the study, it was recommended that if Airtel Kenya Ltd was to improve their financial performance which had not been impressive, they needed to place key emphasis on the characteristics of their board for efficiency and effectiveness. The management had to ensure that they limited the amount of debts of the firm.

Ethnicity, politics and firm performance: Evidence from Malaysia

Motivated by the inconclusive evidence on the role of ethnic diversity of directors and the limited research, this study examines whether there is an association between board ethnic diversity in Malaysian firms and firm performance. We find that the association between ethnic diversity of boards and firm performance is non-linear; at low levels of ethnic diversity there is a positive association but at higher levels of ethnic diversity, the association is negative. However, when we split the sample into politically and non-politically connected firms, we find that this association only holds for non-politically firms. Further, when we split our politically connected sample into Malay and non-Malay dominant boards, we find generally, that in both groups of firms, board ethnic diversity does not influence firm performance. Overall, these results suggest that the presence of political connection could undermine the role of ethnic diversity in influencing firm performance.

Ethnic Diversity and Firm Financial Performance: Evidence From Malaysia

The authors investigate the relationship between board ethnic diversity, ethnicity and market, and book measures of firm financial performance using Malaysian data. This represents a departure from prior studies that focused on White countries whose people remain culturally indistinct. Ethnic diversity is measured by the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index; ethnicity is the largest representation of a single race. Controlling for firm- and board-specific attributes, the authors find a significant positive relationship between ethnic diversity and firm financial performance and that financial performance of companies differ between ethnicities. The results suggest that despite modernization and homogenization, corporate Malaysia is still divided along racial lines.

Does Board Ethnic Diversity Promote Banks' Performance? A Panel Data Investigation into Nigeria's Banking Sector

Does Board Ethnic Diversity Promote Banks' Performance? A Panel Data Investigation into Nigeria's Banking Sector

Board Ethnic Diversity in Newly Listed Malaysian Companies

This paper examines the ethnic profile of board members in 235 newly listed Malaysian companies at the time of public offerings during the period 1999 to 2006. Using Blau�s (1977) index of heterogeneity, this paper finds evidence of the existence of ethnic diversity among board members of these companies. Further analysis reveals that the boardrooms of the sample are dominated by the Chinese ethnic group that accounts for 57percent of board seats, followed by Malays, Indians and Others. Interestingly, on average, foreigners account for 7 percent of board seats. The results indicate that newly listed Malaysian companies are ethnically diversified.