“This study examines the impact of top management changes on stock returns in Nigeria from 1997 to 2005. The study also reflects on the impact of board composition and politics on shareholders’ wealth. The test of shareholder wealth effects around the time of top management changes is
structured as an event study. The study concludes that change in top management, including the composition of the board of directors, matters because announcements of board changes contribute to shareholder wealth, while corporate leaders affect the performance of the organization. In
Nigeria, the announcement of the appointment of politically connected top managers
produces positive information content and positive investor reaction, while the
announcement of top management changes without political connections results in negative shareholder wealth. The findings are consistent with hypothesized benefits from internal mechanisms of corporate control in management change.”
