Why Do Firms Employ Foreigners on Their Top Management Teams? A Multilevel Exploration of Individual and Firm Level Antecedents

SMG Working Paper No. 21/2008

38 Pages Posted: 17 Jul 2008

See all articles by Sabina Nielsen

Sabina Nielsen

Copenhagen Business School

Bo Bernhard Nielsen

Copenhagen Business School - Department of Strategic Management and Globalization

Date Written: July 16, 2008

Abstract

In Europe, in particular, the number of foreigners appointed to top management teams has increased significantly over the past decade. However, the question of why some firms elect to employ foreign nationals on their top management teams remains unclear. This study utilizes a multi-level methodology to test the degree to which employment of a foreigner on the top management team is driven by individual level human capital characteristics versus firm level strategic considerations. Results from empirical tests on a sample of Swiss publicly listed companies suggest that degree of international diversification is positively associated with the likelihood of having a foreign executive, whereas human capital characteristics do not explain the propensity to employ a foreigner on the top management team. Further analyses indicate that nationality diversity at the board level, as well as the international experience of the top management team, are possible predictors of the probability of having a foreigner on the top management team.

Keywords: top management teams, human capital, firm internationalization, foreigners, upper echelons, boards of directors.

Suggested Citation

Nielsen, Sabina and Nielsen, Bo Bernhard, Why Do Firms Employ Foreigners on Their Top Management Teams? A Multilevel Exploration of Individual and Firm Level Antecedents (July 16, 2008). SMG Working Paper No. 21/2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1161069 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1161069

Sabina Nielsen

Copenhagen Business School ( email )

Solbjerg Plads 3
Frederiksberg C, DK - 2000
Denmark

Bo Bernhard Nielsen (Contact Author)

Copenhagen Business School - Department of Strategic Management and Globalization ( email )

Porcelænshaven 24
Frederiksberg, 2000
Denmark
+45 3815 3030 (Phone)
+45 2815 3035 (Fax)

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