BOARD COMPOSITION AND FIRMS’ PROFITABILITY: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN INDIA
BOARD COMPOSITION AND FIRMS’ PROFITABILITY: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN INDIA

Summary/Abstract: The current study aims to assess the effect of board of directors’ composition on the profitability of Indian pharmaceutical companies. The analysis is based on 82 companies, analyzed over ten years, from 2008 to 2017. The least squares regression model is used for analysing the data. One accounting-based measure (return on assets, ROA) and one marketing-based measure (Tobin Q) are used as proxies for firms’ profitability. Leverage, firms’ size and age are used as control variables. The findings reveal that board of directors’ composition as measured by the percentage of independent board members negatively and significantly affects firm’s profitability measured by ROA. On the other hand, board of directors’ composition positively and significantly affects profitability measured by Tobin Q. Furthermore, firms’ size and age positively and significantly impact profitability. This topic is largely neglected by researchers of Indian origin at home and abroad. The present study provides an insight for pharmaceutical companies to consider a high level of professionalism of their board members. Greater board independence could bring more expertise, improving profitability. Accordingly, the current research has implications for board members of pharmaceutical companies, especially government-owned ones.

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