Personal traits of CEOs and cybersecurity-related disclosure

IF 3.3 Q1 BUSINESS, FINANCE

Journal of International Accounting Auditing and Taxation Pub Date : 2025-01-15 DOI:10.1016/j.intaccaudtax.2025.100680

Vu Quang Trinh , Marwa Elnahass , Fotios Pasiouras

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Cybersecurity attacks represent a pressing corporate risk that has shaped contemporary practice worldwide. Motivated by the increased frequency of cyberattacks experienced by corporations around the world, we examine the effect of a CEO’s personal traits (i.e., qualifications, directorships, marital status, tenure, and age) on both the propensity and the level of cybersecurity-related disclosures. Using a sample of publicly traded U.S. firms during 2002–2020, we find the following results. Firms led by CEOs who have PhDs are likely to disclose less cybersecurity information, but firms led by CEOs who serve as directors of multiple firms show higher levels of disclosure. Furthermore, longer-tenured CEOs tend to disclose less, whereas married and older CEOs disclose more. Our findings suggest that the personal traits of managers are fundamental in explaining firms’ discrepant cybersecurity disclosure practices. The results offer new insights and have important implications for national regulators across the world, international accounting bodies, and investors. They also suggest directions for future studies of strategic responses to institutional pressures and firms’ cybersecurity policies and controls.

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来源期刊

Journal of International Accounting Auditing and Taxation BUSINESS, FINANCE-

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

3.80%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation publishes articles which deal with most areas of international accounting including auditing, taxation and management accounting. The journal''s goal is to bridge the gap between academic researchers and practitioners by publishing papers that are relevant to the development of the field of accounting. Submissions are expected to make a contribution to the accounting literature, including as appropriate the international accounting literature typically found in JIAAT and other primary US-based international accounting journals as well as in leading European accounting journals. Applied research findings, critiques of current accounting practices and the measurement of their effects on business decisions, general purpose solutions to problems through models, and essays on world affairs which affect accounting practice are all within the scope of the journal.