The Role of Executive Characteristics in Financial Decision-Making

Strategic financial decisions such as mergers and acquisitions are among the most consequential actions firms undertake. Yet, the role of individual executives in shaping these decisions remains insufficiently understood. This book explores how characteristics and personality traits of top management team members are reflected in corporate behavior. Grounded in Upper Echelons Theory, the book comprises three empirical studies that examine how top executive characteristics shape mergers and acquisitions and corporate communication, with a particular focus on CFO power and CEO narcissism. By integrating behavioral theory with empirical corporate finance, this book contributes to the growing field of behavioral corporate finance and offers novel insights into the individual-level mechanisms underlying strategic financial decision-making.