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Can CEOs' overseas background facilitates enterprise internationalization breadth?

Author

Listed:
  • Sun, Xiao
  • Sun, Honghai

Abstract

This study examines the impact of CEOs' foreign backgrounds on the geographic extent of business internationalization. The present literature has thoroughly examined firm-level variables, including technical flexibility and dynamic capabilities. However, it has predominantly neglected the influence of individual traits of senior executives on internationalization plans. This research contends that CEOs with international experience possess distinctive cross-cultural insights, transnational networks, and coordination skills that improve resource integration, allowing firms to identify and utilize global resources while more effectively navigating institutional disparities and cultural misalignments. Moreover, these executives alleviate management myopia by promoting long-term strategic viewpoints and advocating for continued investment in foreign expansion despite short-term ambiguities. This study systematically analyzes how CEOs' global experiences stimulate international presence, thereby enhancing theoretical understanding by emphasizing individual leadership as a crucial yet overlooked factor in internationalization. It provides practical implications for businesses striving to improve global competitiveness and for policymakers focused on fostering cross-border economic integration.

Suggested Citation

  • Sun, Xiao & Sun, Honghai, 2025. "Can CEOs' overseas background facilitates enterprise internationalization breadth?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:86:y:2025:i:pb:s1544612325016514
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2025.108397
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    References listed on IDEAS

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