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CEO turnover and director reputation

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  • von Meyerinck, Felix
  • Romer, Jonas
  • Schmid, Markus

Abstract

This paper analyzes the reputational effects of forced CEO turnovers on outside directors. We find that directors interlocked to a forced CEO turnover experience large and persistent increases in withheld votes at subsequent re-elections relative to non-turnover-interlocked directors. Directors are not penalized for an involvement in a turnover per se but for forced CEO turnovers that are related to governance failures by the board. Our results challenge the widespread view that forcing out a CEO can generally be understood as a sign of a well-functioning corporate governance.

Suggested Citation

  • von Meyerinck, Felix & Romer, Jonas & Schmid, Markus, 2025. "CEO turnover and director reputation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:163:y:2025:i:c:s0304405x24001946
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2024.103971
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    CEO turnover; Director elections; Director reputation; CEO succession; Shareholder voting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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