Who shall succeed? How CEO/board preferences and power affect the choice of new CEOs

Edward J. Zajac, James D. Westphal

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

388 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study shows how social psychological and sociopolitical factors can create divergence in the preferences of an incumbent CEO and existing board regarding the desired characteristics of a new CEO, and how relative CEO/board power can predict whose preferences are realized. Using extensive longitudinal data, we found that more powerful boards are more likely to change CEO characteristics in the direction of their own demographic profile. Outside successors are also typically demographically different from their CEO predecessors but demographically similar to the boards.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)64-90
Number of pages27
JournalAcademy of Management Journal
Volume39
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Business and International Management
  • General Business, Management and Accounting
  • Strategy and Management
  • Management of Technology and Innovation

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