Power dynamics within top management and their impacts on CEO dismissal followed by inside succession

Following a power perspective, this study longitudinally examines the antecedents of CEO dismissal followed by inside succession. Our theory highlights interest conflicts and competition within top management. We propose that CEO origin, CEO tenure, non-CEO inside directors, and senior executive ownership are important antecedents of CEO dismissal followed by inside succession. Evidence from a sample of 387 large US corporations suggests that non-CEO senior executives frequently play an important role in CEO dismissal. (73) In Press- AMJ 3 A major focus in current succession and governance research explores the influence of power in CEO dismissal and succession decisions (Boeker, 1992; Boeker & Goodstein, 1993