Corporate strategy, executive selection, and firm performance

Abstract

This article investigates three related questions: (1) Is corporate diversification strategy associated with the level of firm-specific experience (tenure) of selected CEOs? (2) Are tenure levels of selected CEOs related to subsequent organizational performance? and (3) Does diversification strategy influence the impact that CEO firm-specific experience has on subsequent organizational performance? Results indicate that while diversification levels do not relate to extent of tenure, the selection of CEOs with lower levels of firm-specific experience results in significantly improved performance among nondiversified firms. No such relationship is observed in more diversified firms.1 © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.