Effect of CEO Characteristics and Financial Performance of Listed Consumer Goods Firms in Nigeria

The study examines the effect of chief executive officers (CEO) Characteristics on the financial performance of listed fast moving consumer goods firms in Nigeria from 2013 to 2022. The study used a sample size of thirteen (13). The dependent variable was measured by ROA and ROE. The study engaged a secondary source of data which was obtained from the annual reports of the firms and NEG website. The results from the Driscoll-Kraay robust fixed effect regression analysis proved that CEO financial expertise and tenure have a positive and significant effect on the financial performance of the listed while CEO Political connection has a positive and insignificant effect on financial performance. The study concludes that firms with CEOs who are financial experts outperform firms without expertise in terms of financial performance in listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria. The study recommends among others that the board of the consumer goods firms when hiring CEOs should give significant weight to candidates’ financial expertise. The recruitment process should assess the candidates’ financial acumen, educational background, and relevant experience.