{"title":"How do prestigious CEOs change corporate ESG initiatives?","authors":"Ying Chen , Zhitao Wang , Fan Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.irfa.2025.104273","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study uses a sample of publicly listed companies in China to examine the impact of award-winning chief executive officers (CEOs) on corporate ESG performance. The findings provide strong evidence that prestigious CEOs are linked to improved ESG outcomes. Additionally, we identify financial constraints and media coverage as key mediators underlying this relationship. Furthermore, the positive influence of award-winning CEOs is more pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises, high-tech companies, and firms located in regions with less developed banking sectors. In conclusion, this paper highlights the effects of award-winning CEOs and the drivers of corporate ESG behavior.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48226,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Financial Analysis","volume":"104 ","pages":"Article 104273"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Review of Financial Analysis","FirstCategoryId":"96","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1057521925003606","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BUSINESS, FINANCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This study uses a sample of publicly listed companies in China to examine the impact of award-winning chief executive officers (CEOs) on corporate ESG performance. The findings provide strong evidence that prestigious CEOs are linked to improved ESG outcomes. Additionally, we identify financial constraints and media coverage as key mediators underlying this relationship. Furthermore, the positive influence of award-winning CEOs is more pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises, high-tech companies, and firms located in regions with less developed banking sectors. In conclusion, this paper highlights the effects of award-winning CEOs and the drivers of corporate ESG behavior.
期刊介绍:
The International Review of Financial Analysis (IRFA) is an impartial refereed journal designed to serve as a platform for high-quality financial research. It welcomes a diverse range of financial research topics and maintains an unbiased selection process. While not limited to U.S.-centric subjects, IRFA, as its title suggests, is open to valuable research contributions from around the world.