CEO career experience and insurance innovation in China

This study investigates the impact of CEO career experience attributes upon corporate innovation activities of insurance companies in China. We find that generalist CEOs with a high degree of career experience variety promote patenting activities, whereas extensive board experience and government experience generally curb innovation activities. Moreover, the effects of CEO career experience attributes on innovation are alleviated if the CEO is hired from outside the company and are amplified under CEO duality. Furthermore, CEO career variety and board experience are positively associated with market reactions, whereas public institution and government experience leads to negative abnormal returns.