Boards of directors and firm performance: A study of non-financial listed firms on the Kuwait Stock Exchange

Abstract

Prior to 2017, there were no corporate governance rules in Kuwait. The previous rules were silent regarding boards of directors, shareholders’ rights, disclosure, and auditing. However, at the beginning of 2017, the Kuwaiti government introduced new governance rules and required all firms listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) to comply with these rules. This study examined the impact of boards of directors on firm performance following the implementation of these new rules using a sample of 89 non-financial listed firms from 2017 to 2019. The study used four board variables – namely, board size, board independence, family directors, and board diversity – and found that, based on Tobin’s results, board size, board independence, and board diversity significantly impact firm performance whereas the ROA results indicate that only family directors significantly impact firm performance