Chief executive officer’s dark triad personality and firm's degree of internationalization: The mediating role of ambidexterity

Abstract

This study empirically examines the relationships among CEOs’ dark triad personality (narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism), ambidexterity, and firms’ internationalization behavior. Dark triad personality traits have attracted growing attention in the fields of psychology and organizational behavior due to their influence on individual decision-making, particularly by individuals in executive leadership roles. We extend research on dark triad personality to international business (IB) and examine the link between IB decision-makers’ personality traits and firms’ IB outcomes. Our research highlights the complex dynamics shaping firm internationalization, with both the CEO’s dark triad personality and ambidexterity playing significant roles in driving firm internationalization outcomes. An analysis of 405 firms from the United Kingdom and the United States reveals that ambidexterity partially mediates the relationship between dark triad personality and the degree of internationalization and that firms pursuing internationalization may benefit from CEOs with a dark triad personality.