The Impact of Chief Executive Officer Characteristics on Corporate Performance

Abstract

As the core decision-maker of a company, the personal characteristics of the Chief Executive Officer significantly influence corporate performance, which is a key issue in the field of strategic management. This article systematically reviews empirical studies on five types of Chief Executive Officer characteristics: education level, talent, overseas experience, financial expertise, and psychological traits, revealing their mechanisms of action. The research findings show that Chief Executive Officer talent, financial expertise, and overseas experience that combines both learning and working backgrounds significantly positively promote corporate performance; however, the value of education level is only reflected from a long-term perspective. Conversely, excessive psychological confidence leads to a decline in performance. Based on this, it is recommended that business owners comprehensively assess professional capability, practical experience, and psychological maturity when selecting a Chief Executive Officer, and managers should balance confidence with risk awareness. This research provides theoretical support and practical guidance for optimizing the allocation of executives in companies.