Directors' Characteristics and Committee Membership: An Investigation of Type, Occupation, Tenure, and Gender

Abstract

This study examined the composition of corporate board committees. The characteristics of occupation, type, tenure, and gender are examined in relationship to directors' membership on the four board committees that are typically the most influential and powerful—the audit, nominating, compensation, and executive committees. The results show strong evidence to suggest that the composition of these committees does differ in rather significant ways from that of corporate boards in general. There is also evidence that certain directorial characteristics take on more or less importance within particular groups.