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Legacy under threat: CEO entrenchment, power and governance dynamics in family firms

Clinton, Eric orcid logoORCID: 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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