Clinton, Eric
ORCID: 0000-0002-3888-8194
(2026)
Legacy under threat: CEO entrenchment, power and governance dynamics in family firms.
Journal Of Small Business Management
.
ISSN 1540-627X
(In Press)
Abstract
This article examines whether CEO entrenchment and the accumulation of power negatively impact long-term social legacybuilding practices. Utilizing data from 2,637 firms across 80 countries, we find that power-motivated CEOs undermine both the practice and continuity of these social initiatives. However, our findings suggest that ownership structures—specifically family involvement—serve as a vital internal governance mechanism. By monitoring executive behavior, family involvement mitigates the detrimental effects of CEO entrenchment on social legacy-building practices. These results underscore the critical role of ownership-based governance in aligning CEO actions with long-term firm goals.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article (In Press) |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Corporate social irresponsibility; social legacy; succession; entrenchment; CEO power; board of directors; family firms |
| Subjects: | Business > Management Business > Business ethics |
| DCU Faculties and Centres: | DCU Faculties and Schools > DCU Business School |
| Publisher: | Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc. |
| Official URL: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00472... |
| Copyright Information: | Authors |
| ID Code: | 33506 |
| Deposited On: | 02 Oct 2026 12:45 by Eric Clinton . Last Modified 02 Oct 2026 12:45 |
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