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Are entrepreneurs special? Evidence from board appointments

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  • Faleye, Olubunmi
  • Kung, Wilson
  • Parwada, Jerry T.
  • Tian, Gloria Y.

Abstract

As shown in previous studies, founder-led firms perform better than those run by professional managers. Does this reflect the special relation of founders to their firms or do entrepreneurs possess attributes and experiences that are valuable even at firms not founded by them? Drawing on the resource-based view of the firm, we study this question by evaluating the effect of entrepreneurs who serve as outside directors of other firms. We find that the stock market reacts positively to appointments of outside entrepreneur directors and that firms with these directors have higher long-term value as measured by Tobin's q. Entrepreneur directors are also associated with increased R&D investment and higher sales growth, and their effect on firm value is larger among firms in R&D-intensive and competitive industries. We conclude that outside entrepreneur directors enhance firm value through their propensity to take risk and their ability to anticipate demand patterns and create new markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Faleye, Olubunmi & Kung, Wilson & Parwada, Jerry T. & Tian, Gloria Y., 2020. "Are entrepreneurs special? Evidence from board appointments," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(3).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbvent:v:35:y:2020:i:3:s0883902617309072
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusvent.2020.106003
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    1. Braunerhjelm, Pontus & Lappi, Emma, 2023. "Employees' entrepreneurial human capital and firm performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(2).
    2. Ramoglou, Stratos, 2021. "Knowable opportunities in an unknowable future? On the epistemological paradoxes of entrepreneurship theory," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(2).
    3. Louise Lindbjerg & Theodor Vladasel, 2021. "Hiring entrepreneurs for innovation," Economics Working Papers 1811, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
    4. Mendoza, Geovanny & Llopis, Juan & Gasco, Jose & Gonzalez, Reyes, 2021. "Entrepreneurship as seen by entrepreneurs in a developing country," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 547-556.
    5. Andersen, Angela & Garel, Alexandre & Gilbert, Aaron & Tourani-Rad, Alireza, 2022. "Social capital, human capital, and board appointments," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Entrepreneurs; Boards of directors; Resource-based view; Firm value;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship

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