Overseas-Returned Executives, R&D and Innovation

Hiring overseas-returned executives is increasingly regarded by researchers and society as an important business strategy. This paper investigates the effects of overseas-returned executives in the top management team on firms in China. We propose a mechanism-based framework to study how overseas-returned executives affect firm innovation. Using listed companies in China's manufacturing industry, we find that overseas-returned executives have a positive effect on firm innovation, especially for high-tech firms, large firms, state-owned firms and returned executives with foreign work experience. Increase in research and development investment is an important channel through which overseas-returned executives affect firm innovation.