EFFECT OF CEO CHARACTERISTICS ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF LISTED INSURANCE COMPANIES IN NIGERIA

This study examines the impact of CEO characteristics on financial performance of listed insurance companies in Nigeria. The study utilizes documentary data collected from annual reports and accounts of the sampled companies for the period 2016 to 2020. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) technique was used in analyzing the data. Findings from the study shows that CEO gender and CEO share ownership have significant positive impact on financial performance of the firms. An insignificant positive impact was also recorded between CEO level of education and firm financial performance. Based on these findings, the study concludes that CEO characteristics drive financial performance of listed insurance companies in Nigeria. On the basis of this conclusion, the study recommends among others that emphasis should be given to males when hiring CEOs and also CEOs of listed insurance companies in Nigeria should be encourage to own more shares in the companies they are managing.