Can ownership structure and board characteristics affect firm performance?

Abstract

This research aimed to examine the association between board of directors’ characteristics as a composite measure, the performance of companies in Jordan and the influence of family ownership on this association. Using data on industrial companies indexed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) from 2013 to 2017, a positive association between board characteristics and company performance was found, indicating that higher board effectiveness is associated with more effective monitoring of management behavior. In addition, the association between board characteristics and company performance was strong when there was an interaction with family ownership, as companies with boards with family members achieve higher performance than companies with boards run by external directors. The study findings could be useful to all regulators seeking to improve the quality of monitoring mechanism practices, especially in emerging economies.