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Do CEOs exercise managerial discretion to save their jobs?

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  • Sungsoo Kim
  • Rakesh Sambharya
  • Joon Yang

Abstract

Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) wield considerable power and authority. In many industries and contexts, CEO turnover is studied in terms of antecedents, the event itself, and the related consequences. However, the extent to which CEOs exert their power and attempt to prevent their dismissal has not been thoroughly examined. In this study, we examine the role of CEOs exercising managerial discretion in their effort to prevent their own corporate demise. We hypothesize that CEOs cut discretionary expenses such as research and development, advertising, and rent in order to boost earnings and enhance financial performance. A sample of CEO turnover from Standard and Poor’s ExecComp database for the period 1992–1998 in US firms yielded 474 turnover firms and 2,066 control firm-years. We tested the effects of CEO turnover and managerial discretion on firm performance measured by cumulative abnormal stock returns. We also compared the turnover and non-turnover firms in terms of pattern of discretionary spending prior to CEO turnover. The results are consistent with our prediction that CEOs facing termination attempt to post higher earnings by reducing discretionary spending after controlling for firm performance, firm diversification, book to market ratio, and CEO ownership, industry-, and year dummies. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016

Suggested Citation

  • Sungsoo Kim & Rakesh Sambharya & Joon Yang, 2016. "Do CEOs exercise managerial discretion to save their jobs?," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 20(1), pages 179-200, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:20:y:2016:i:1:p:179-200
    DOI: 10.1007/s10997-014-9300-2
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Naima Lassoued & Imen Khanchel, 2023. "Voluntary CSR disclosure and CEO narcissism: the moderating role of CEO duality and board gender diversity," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 1075-1123, April.
    2. Ahlem Dabbebi & Naima Lassoued & Imen Khanchel, 2022. "Peering through the smokescreen: ESG disclosure and CEO personality," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(7), pages 3147-3164, October.
    3. Al-Shammari, Marwan & Rasheed, Abdul & Al-Shammari, Hussam A., 2019. "CEO narcissism and corporate social responsibility: Does CEO narcissism affect CSR focus?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 106-117.
    4. Zhaocheng Xu & Jingchuan Hou, 2021. "Effects of CEO Overseas Experience on Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-24, May.
    5. Pascal Nguyen & Nahid Rahman & Ruoyun Zhao, 2018. "CEO characteristics and firm valuation: a quantile regression analysis," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 22(1), pages 133-151, March.
    6. Zhaocheng Xu, 2024. "Will CEO-TMT Overseas Experience Differences Reduce Innovation Investment? Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Listed Companies," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 771-800, March.

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