Do Board Composition Attributes Lead to Better Environmental, Social and Governance Performance in Malaysia?

Abstract

This article aims to investigate the relationships between board composition attributes and the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of 50 Malaysian listed companies from 2015 to 2021. Despite the growing number of literature on ESG performance, the effect of board composition on ESG performance still needs to be fully understood. This study analyses board size, board gender diversity, CEO duality roles, board independence, and board experience. The results indicate that board gender diversity, independence, and experience significantly affect ESG performance among listed companies in Malaysia. These findings provide regulators and corporations aiming to improve ESG performance by altering board structures with significant insights.