The Impact of CEO Narcissistic Traits on Corporate Economic Development—A Case Study of Gree Electric Appliances
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The Impact of CEO Narcissistic Traits on Corporate Economic Development—A Case Study of Gree Electric Appliances

Gen Li 1*
1 Hunan University of Art and Science
*Corresponding author: 2702808455@qq.com
Published on 24 July 2025
Volume Cover
AEMPS Vol.203
ISSN (Print): 2754-1177
ISSN (Online): 2754-1169
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-275-1
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-276-8
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Abstract

In the field of corporate management, the impact of CEO narcissistic traits on corporate strategic decision-making and economic development has attracted increasing attention. However, existing research mainly focuses on routine business operations, leaving an obvious gap in the discussion of business resource allocation. From the perspective of the Upper Echelons Theory, this paper takes Gree Electric Appliances, a leading enterprise in China’s home appliance industry, and its CEO Dong Mingzhu as the research objects to explore the manifestations of CEO narcissistic traits, the decision-making transmission mechanism, and their impact on corporate economy. The study finds that Dong Mingzhu is deeply bound to Gree Electric Appliances, and she enhances the company’s visibility and market attention, making centralized decisions in marketing, product promotion, etc. Dong Mingzhu’s narcissistic traits affect strategic choices through paths such as binding personal brands to the enterprise and high media exposure, which improve the company’s popularity in the short term but lead to inefficient resource allocation for diversified projects in the long term. This research provides theoretical references and practical insights for the governance optimization of strong-leadership enterprises.

Keywords:

Gree, Upper Echelons Theory, CEO Narcissistic Traits

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Li,G. (2025). The Impact of CEO Narcissistic Traits on Corporate Economic Development—A Case Study of Gree Electric Appliances. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,203,44-49.

References

[1]. Hambrick, D. C., & Mason, P. A. (1984). Upper Echelons: The Organization as a Reflection of Its Top Managers. The Academy of Management Review, 9(2), 193–206.

[2]. Chatterjee, A., & Hambrick, D. C. (2007). “It’s All About Me”: Narcissistic Chief Executive Officers and Their Effects on Company Strategy and Performance. Administrative Science Quarterly, 52(3), 351 - 386.

[3]. Conger, J. A., & Kanungo, R. N. (1987). Toward a Behavioral Theory of Charismatic Leadership in Organizational Settings. The Academy of Management Review, 12(4), 637 - 647.

[4]. Wang, J. (2023). An Investigation into the Reason for the Decrease of Tesla’s Stock Price Despite Obtaining a Great Sale in 2022. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences, 32, 56-61.

[5]. O’Rourke, D. (2017). Consumer trends in apple sales. In Achieving sustainable cultivation of apples. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge. pp. 535-546.

[6]. Johnson, K., Li, Y., Phan, H., Singer, J., & Trinh, H. (2012). The Innovative Success that is Apple, Inc.

[7]. Gree Electric Appliances. (2024). 2023 Annual Report [Company Announcement]. https: //global.gree.com/channels/113.html.

[8]. Sun J. (2023). Analysis of the Motivation and Performance of Gree Electric Appliances’ Diversification Strategy Transformation. Beijing: China University of Petroleum.

[9]. Zhang, Y., & Li, X. (2024). CEO Narcissism and Corporate Risk - Taking: Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies. China Journal of Accounting Research, 17(3), 211 - 235.

[10]. Liu S., Yang H. (2022). Research on the Governance Structure and Leadership Decision - Making Efficiency of Gree Electric Appliances. Management World, 2022(8): 123 - 135.

[11]. Zhang M. (2023). Transformation of Gree Electric Appliances’ Marketing Model: Analysis Based on the Empowerment of Dong Mingzhu’s Personal Brand. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 2023(3): 45 - 56.

References

[1]. Hambrick, D. C., & Mason, P. A. (1984). Upper Echelons: The Organization as a Reflection of Its Top Managers. The Academy of Management Review, 9(2), 193–206.

[2]. Chatterjee, A., & Hambrick, D. C. (2007). “It’s All About Me”: Narcissistic Chief Executive Officers and Their Effects on Company Strategy and Performance. Administrative Science Quarterly, 52(3), 351 - 386.

[3]. Conger, J. A., & Kanungo, R. N. (1987). Toward a Behavioral Theory of Charismatic Leadership in Organizational Settings. The Academy of Management Review, 12(4), 637 - 647.

[4]. Wang, J. (2023). An Investigation into the Reason for the Decrease of Tesla’s Stock Price Despite Obtaining a Great Sale in 2022. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences, 32, 56-61.

[5]. O’Rourke, D. (2017). Consumer trends in apple sales. In Achieving sustainable cultivation of apples. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge. pp. 535-546.

[6]. Johnson, K., Li, Y., Phan, H., Singer, J., & Trinh, H. (2012). The Innovative Success that is Apple, Inc.

[7]. Gree Electric Appliances. (2024). 2023 Annual Report [Company Announcement]. https: //global.gree.com/channels/113.html.

[8]. Sun J. (2023). Analysis of the Motivation and Performance of Gree Electric Appliances’ Diversification Strategy Transformation. Beijing: China University of Petroleum.

[9]. Zhang, Y., & Li, X. (2024). CEO Narcissism and Corporate Risk - Taking: Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies. China Journal of Accounting Research, 17(3), 211 - 235.

[10]. Liu S., Yang H. (2022). Research on the Governance Structure and Leadership Decision - Making Efficiency of Gree Electric Appliances. Management World, 2022(8): 123 - 135.

[11]. Zhang M. (2023). Transformation of Gree Electric Appliances’ Marketing Model: Analysis Based on the Empowerment of Dong Mingzhu’s Personal Brand. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 2023(3): 45 - 56.

Cite this article

Li,G. (2025). The Impact of CEO Narcissistic Traits on Corporate Economic Development—A Case Study of Gree Electric Appliances. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,203,44-49.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICEMGD 2025 Symposium: Resilient Business Strategies in Global Markets

ISBN: 978-1-80590-275-1(Print) / 978-1-80590-276-8(Online)
Editor: Florian Marcel Nuţă Nuţă, Li Chai
Conference website: https://2025.icemgd.org/CAU.html
Conference date: 20 September 2025
Series: Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences
Volume number: Vol.203
ISSN: 2754-1169(Print) / 2754-1177(Online)

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