Board Changes and the Director Labor Market: The Case of Mergers

Board Changes and the Director Labor Market: The Case of Mergers

Jared Wilson, Ralph Walking, David Becher

Series number :

Serial Number: 
498/2017

Date posted :

March 14 2017

Last revised :

March 20 2017
SSRN Suggested citation Download this paper Open PDF Share

Keywords

We provide benchmarks for board changes over time and in response to the evolution of firm structure. Boards are more stable in the modern era. At the same time, shifts made around mergers are substantial and significantly different than those at non-merging firms.

Changes to acquiring boards reflect firm needs, increased demand for executive and merger experience and bargaining between targets and acquirers, rather than agency motives. Conversely, director selection at non-merging firms is driven by general skills and diversity. Our analyses provide insight into the dynamic nature of board structure and characteristics demanded in the director labor market.

View full abstract

Authors

Professor
Real name: 
David Becher
Drexel University, LeBow College of Business
Professor
Real name: 
Ralph Walking
Drexel University, LeBow College of Business
Professor
Real name: 
Jared Wilson
Indiana University, Kelley School of Business