CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CHARACTERISTICS AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF LISTED DEPOSIT MONEY BANKS

This study investigates the impact of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) characteristics on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices among listed Deposit Money BanksDMBs) in Nigeria over the period 2018–2023. Employing a panel dataset and utilizing the Panel Generalized Least Squares (PGLS) regression technique, the study accounts for heteroskedasticity, serial correlation, and cross-sectional dependence to ensure reliable and robust estimates. CSR performance was measured as CSR expenditure relative to profit after tax, while CEO characteristics-age, gender, educational background, and professional experience-served as the main explanatory variables. Control variables such as Return on Assets (ROA) and bank size were also incorporated. The findings reveal that CEO gender, educational background, and professional experience have significant positive effects on CSR, indicating that female CEOs, higher academic qualifications, and broader professional exposure enhance CSR engagement. However, CEO age showed an insignificant negative effect. The study concludes that CEO attributes play a crucial role in shaping CSR initiatives and recommends that banks and policymakers consider these characteristics in executive selection to promote socially responsible and sustainable banking practices.