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CEO gender and cybersecurity: The role of female CEOs in mitigating data breach risks

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  • Sun, Liang

Abstract

While cybersecurity is an important concern and CEOs play a crucial role in managing cybersecurity risks, evidence on how CEO characteristics influence data breach incidents is limited. Motivated by the increasing frequency and severity of data breaches, this study investigates how CEO gender affects firms’ likelihood of experiencing a data breach. The findings show that firms led by female CEOs are less likely to experience breaches. This association remains robust after matching on breach likelihood and correcting for selection bias. Cross-sectional analyses show that the effect of female CEOs on reducing data breach likelihood is more pronounced in poorly governed firms and in firms lacking IT expertise among top executives. Further investigation suggest that enhanced IT governance is a mechanism through which female CEOs reduce firm’s data breach likelihood. Overall, my findings reveal how CEO characteristics influence firms’ cybersecurity outcomes and complement the literature on information security and gender diversity in corporate leadership.

Suggested Citation

  • Sun, Liang, 2025. "CEO gender and cybersecurity: The role of female CEOs in mitigating data breach risks," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ijoais:v:56:y:2025:i:c:s1467089525000223
    DOI: 10.1016/j.accinf.2025.100746
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    JEL classification:

    • M15 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - IT Management
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General

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