Jeffrey Lovelace presented his co-authored paper at the Oxford University Centre for Corporate Reputation’s symposium

September 11, 2019

Jeffrey Lovelace presented his co-authored paper, “The Push and Pull of Attaining CEO Celebrity,” at the Oxford University Centre for Corporate Reputation’s annual symposium Aug. 29, 2019. Lovelace and his co-authors Jonathan Bundy (Arizona State University), Timothy Pollock (University of Tennessee Knoxville), and Donald Hambrick (Penn State University) ask the question, “Why do some CEOs become celebrities, while others with seemingly equal accomplishments do not?” CEO celebrity can yield valuable validation for CEOs, but it can also go to their heads, causing various combinations of complacency, risk taking, and hubris that negatively affect firm performance. Their study identifies how distinctive firm strategies, a CEO’s individual characteristics, and self-promotion activities enhance the likelihood of celebrity attainment.