The moderating effect of corporate governance reforms on the relationship between audit committee chair attributes and ESG disclosures

Bibliographic Data

ID17832765
AuthorsAbdulaziz S Al Naim (0009-0003-3491-9234, King Faisal University, corresponding author), Abdulrahman Alomair (0000-0001-7493-7822, King Faisal University), Kaouther Chebbi (0000-0002-3338-2047, King Faisal University)
Year2026
Volume13
Issue1
Publication date2026-01-31
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHumanities and Social Sciences Communications (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2662-9992 • E-ISSN: 2662-9992
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1057/s41599-026-06536-1
OpenAlexW7126396805
LanguageEN
References cited91

This study examines the impact of audit committee chair attributes on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosures, focusing on the moderating role of corporate governance reforms in an emerging market, specifically Saudi Arabia. Using a sample of 243 firm-year observations from 2014 to 2023, the study employs a fixed effects regression model to analyze the relationship between the quality of ESG disclosures and the independence, experience, and interlocking directorships of the audit committee chair. The findings reveal that independent and experienced audit committee chairs significantly improve ESG disclosures, while interlocking negatively affects transparency. Moreover, corporate governance reforms introduced in Saudi Arabia in 2017 under the Vision 2030 initiative enhance the positive influence of independent and experienced chairs on ESG disclosures, while mitigating the negative impact of interlocking directorates. This study provides practical insights for companies and policymakers in emerging markets, emphasizing the role of independent and experienced audit committee chairs in improving ESG disclosures. Improved governance practices, supported by regulatory reforms like Saudi Vision 2030, can attract international investors, improve sustainability integration, and align firms with global standards. The study highlights that better ESG disclosures promote corporate responsibility, stakeholder trust, and alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, contributing to economic growth, reduced inequality, and environmental sustainability. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to examine the relationship between audit committee chair characteristics and ESG disclosure in Saudi Arabia, incorporating the moderating role of corporate governance reforms. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the importance of audit committee leadership and governance reforms in improving ESG disclosures, offering practical suggestions to firms seeking to enhance transparency and sustainability practices in emerging markets

Audit · Audit Committee · Chief audit executive · Corporate governance · Joint audit · Stakeholder · Sustainability · Auditing, Earnings Management, Governance · Corporate Governance and Financial Management · Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting

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