Three Dimensional
Document Type
Article
Keywords
initial public offering; chief executive officers;
Identifier Data
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-627X.2011.00320.x
Publisher
Wiley Online Library
Publication Source
Journal of Small Business Management, 49(2), 163-184
Abstract
An initial public offering (IPO) is one of the most critical events in the life of a firm. As the IPO market continues to attract attention from both entrepreneurs and investors, research examining the relationship between the firm's characteristics and its IPO performance is growing. In this paper, we use the upper echelon perspective to empirically examine the relationship between the firm's chief executive officer (CEO) and the firm's time to IPO, a relationship that has so far received little attention. Using data obtained from 237 IPOs in the U.S. software industry, we found that the CEO's prior executive experience, network, and age are significantly related to the new firm's time to IPO. This study extends the understanding of the important role of the CEO in the IPO and provides investors greater insight into those variables that influence the speed with which firms go public.
