CEO personality: A different perspective on the nonfamily versus family CEO debate

Ruveyda Kelleci; Frank Lambrechts; Wim Voordeckers; Jolien Huybrechts

doi:10.1177/0894486518811222

CEO personality: A different perspective on the nonfamily versus family CEO debate

Ruveyda Kelleci, Frank Lambrechts, Wim Voordeckers, Jolien Huybrechts

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Based on a unique, hand-collected data set, we examine the personality traits of nonfamily and family CEOs in privately held Belgian family firms using the Occupational Personality Questionnaire. We find significant differences between nonfamily and family CEOs with regard to nine personality traits: independent minded, democratic, data rational, behavioral, detail conscious, conscientious, relaxed, worrying, and trusting. The findings suggest a very balanced personality profile for nonfamily CEOs and a rather strong-willed personality for family CEOs. Moreover, while the results suggest that the personalities of nonfamily CEOs matter for firm performance, no such indications were revealed for family CEOs.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	31-57
Number of pages	27
Journal	family business review
Volume	32
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0894486518811222
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2019
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Occupational Personality Questionnaire
family CEO
nonfamily CEO
personality
upper echelons theory

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10.1177/0894486518811222

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title = "CEO personality: A different perspective on the nonfamily versus family CEO debate",

abstract = "Based on a unique, hand-collected data set, we examine the personality traits of nonfamily and family CEOs in privately held Belgian family firms using the Occupational Personality Questionnaire. We find significant differences between nonfamily and family CEOs with regard to nine personality traits: independent minded, democratic, data rational, behavioral, detail conscious, conscientious, relaxed, worrying, and trusting. The findings suggest a very balanced personality profile for nonfamily CEOs and a rather strong-willed personality for family CEOs. Moreover, while the results suggest that the personalities of nonfamily CEOs matter for firm performance, no such indications were revealed for family CEOs.",

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AU - Voordeckers, Wim

AU - Huybrechts , Jolien

PY - 2019/3/1

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N2 - Based on a unique, hand-collected data set, we examine the personality traits of nonfamily and family CEOs in privately held Belgian family firms using the Occupational Personality Questionnaire. We find significant differences between nonfamily and family CEOs with regard to nine personality traits: independent minded, democratic, data rational, behavioral, detail conscious, conscientious, relaxed, worrying, and trusting. The findings suggest a very balanced personality profile for nonfamily CEOs and a rather strong-willed personality for family CEOs. Moreover, while the results suggest that the personalities of nonfamily CEOs matter for firm performance, no such indications were revealed for family CEOs.

AB - Based on a unique, hand-collected data set, we examine the personality traits of nonfamily and family CEOs in privately held Belgian family firms using the Occupational Personality Questionnaire. We find significant differences between nonfamily and family CEOs with regard to nine personality traits: independent minded, democratic, data rational, behavioral, detail conscious, conscientious, relaxed, worrying, and trusting. The findings suggest a very balanced personality profile for nonfamily CEOs and a rather strong-willed personality for family CEOs. Moreover, while the results suggest that the personalities of nonfamily CEOs matter for firm performance, no such indications were revealed for family CEOs.

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KW - upper echelons theory

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JF - family business review

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CEO personality: A different perspective on the nonfamily versus family CEO debate

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Keywords

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