Does shared tenure between board of directors and CEO affect R&D investment?

Psychology literature suggests that shared tenure between individuals affects how they communicate and share information. Given that the relationship between board of directors and CEO involves extensive interactions and information-sharing to maintain shareholders’ interests, this study seeks an answer as to whether that shared tenure between directors and CEO affects
R&D investments. Using a sample of firms listed in the UK FTSE350 index between 2010 and 2019, we find that directors–CEO shared tenure positively affects R&D intensity. The study has implications for corporate governance and strategic management literature by highlighting Board–CEO shared tenure as a new factor affecting R&D investments. This study has implications for practice and policy-makers. In particular, companies that are eager to strengthen corporate governance and maintain sustained innovation might consider the shared tenure between directors and CEO.