Board independence, gender diversity and CEO compensation

Ramzi Benkraiem, Amal Hamrouni, Faten Lakhal and Nadia Ben Farhat Toumi ()
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Amal Hamrouni: La Rochelle Business School, CEREGE [Poitiers, La Rochelle] - Centre de recherche en gestion [EA 1722] - UP - Université de Poitiers = University of Poitiers - ULR - La Rochelle Université
Faten Lakhal: IRG - Institut de Recherche en Gestion - UPEM - Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée - UPEC UP12 - Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12, Université de Sousse
Nadia Ben Farhat Toumi: UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019)

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Abstract: Purpose This paper aims to investigate the joint effect of board independence and gender diversity on the effectiveness of boards in monitoring CEO compensation in a continental European context, i.e. France. Design/methodology/approach Fixed-effect regressions are used to study the impact of board independence, gender diversity and their interaction, i.e. the proportion of female independent directors on the different components of CEO compensation (total, fixed and variable). Findings The authors observe that both the proportions of independent directors and women sitting on the boards positively influence the various components of CEO compensation. However, the interaction of these factors, i.e. the proportion of female independent directors, is negatively associated with CEO compensation. These results suggest that independent women directors improve board effectiveness in monitoring CEO compensation, especially its fixed component. Originality/value The results of this research help to elucidate the importance of women being appointed to boards as independent directors to properly monitor managerial pay. These results provide support to the approach of the French Cope-Zimmerman law of January 2011, which promotes female representation on boards as independent directors to enhance board decision-making. Thus, evidence presented and discussed in this paper should provide useful insights for academics, corporate managers and regulators.

Keywords: Boards of directors; Independence; Monitoring; Gender diversity; CEO pay (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-09-20
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

Published in Corporate Governance: The international journal of business in society, 2017, 17 (5), pp.845-860. ⟨10.1108/CG-02-2017-0027⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01590712

DOI: 10.1108/CG-02-2017-0027

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