'The Shadow of the Past: The Impact of Immigrant CEOs’ National Animosity on Firms’ Location and Governance Mode Choices in Foreign Markets', a seminar by Dr Yi Tang (HKU Business School)

The Shadow of the Past: The Impact of Immigrant CEOs’ National Animosity on Firms’ Location and Governance Mode Choices in Foreign Markets

by Yi Tang

Abstract

This study examines the influence immigrant CEOs have on their firms’ location and governance mode choices in foreign markets. We highlight immigrant CEOs’ national animosity that stems from their country of origin rather than the country in which their firms are headquartered. Specifically, heightened animosity fosters distrust and perceived high risk in specific host countries, discouraging immigrant CEOs from expanding into these countries. Furthermore, when expansion must be done, immigrant CEOs prefer to choose alliances over acquisitions to preserve flexibility. Nonetheless, this tendency weakens when the contemporary geopolitical relationship between the immigrant CEOs’ home countries and the host countries―as well as the relationship between the United States and the host countries―is more positive. Our findings suggest that CEOs’ personal animosity due to their immigrant backgrounds will affect firms’ location and governance mode choices in foreign markets.

About the speaker

Yi Tang is currently an Associate Professor in Strategy (with tenure) at the HKU Business School, University of Hong Kong. He received his PhD from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

Yi Tang’s research interests are in the intersections of strategic leadership, corporate social responsibility, firm innovation, and family business. His work has been published in leading journals including Academy of Management Journal, Strategic Management Journal, Organization Science, Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, and Journal of Business Venturing. He is currently sitting on the editorial boards of Strategic Management Journal, Organization Science, Journal of Management, and Journal of Management Studies. Yi is currently a senior editor for Management and Organization Review and has served as a guest editor for Journal of Management Studies, Long Range Planning, and Family Business Review.