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Are Generalists Beneficial to Corporate Shareholders? Evidence from Exogenous Executive Turnovers

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  • Betzer, André
  • Lee, Hye Seung (Grace)
  • Limbach, Peter
  • Salas, Jesus M.

Abstract

This study finds a positive, economically meaningful impact of generalist chief executive officers (CEOs) on shareholder value using 164 sudden deaths and 345 non-sudden exogenous turnovers. The higher a departing CEO’s general ability index (GAI), independently and relative to her successor, the lower is the abnormal stock return to turnover announcements. Returns reflect post-turnover changes in operating performance. Further, CEOs’ and successors’ GAIs are significantly positively related, but only for non-sudden turnovers. Consistently, for sudden deaths, we find positive stock returns to appointments of generalist successors. The results provide a market-based explanation for the generalist pay premium.

Suggested Citation

  • Betzer, André & Lee, Hye Seung (Grace) & Limbach, Peter & Salas, Jesus M., 2020. "Are Generalists Beneficial to Corporate Shareholders? Evidence from Exogenous Executive Turnovers," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 55(2), pages 581-619, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:jfinqa:v:55:y:2020:i:2:p:581-619_7
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Schmid & Daniel Urban, 2023. "Female Directors and Firm Value: New Evidence from Directors’ Deaths," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(4), pages 2449-2473, April.
    2. Baghdadi, Ghasan A. & Safiullah, Md & Heyden, Mariano L.M., 2023. "Do gender diverse boards enhance managerial ability?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    3. Giovanni Ferri & Raffaele Lagravinese & Giuliano Resce, 2021. "Did the COVID-19 Shock Impair the Stock Performance of Companies with Older CEOs?," SERIES 02-2021, Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza - Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", revised Jun 2021.
    4. Samson Mukanjari & Thomas Sterner, 2024. "Do markets Trump politics? Fossil and renewable market reactions to major political events," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 62(2), pages 805-836, April.
    5. Colak, Gonul & Liljeblom, Eva, 2022. "Easy cleanups or forbearing improvements: The effect of CEO tenure on successor’s performance," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).

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