Successors, Gender, and Internationalisation: Shaping ESG Performance Across Generations in Chinese Family Firms

This study investigates the differential impact of different generations on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance in Chinese family firms (FFs), emphasizing the moderating roles of gender and internationalisation. Using 10,214 observations of Chinese A-share listed FFs from 2009 to 2022, the panel regression results reveal that later generation has a positive effect in driving ESG performance, with female successors positively moderating this effect, particularly in social and governance dimensions. While internationalisation does not significantly moderate this relationship overall, further analysis highlights that successors in highly internationalised firms within economically open regions exert a stronger positive impact on ESG. These findings advance the literature on FFs’ intergenerational succession, female leadership, and internationalisation strategies in emerging markets by offering new insights into the interplay between generational leadership, gender diversity, and external institutional contexts. Further, it provides practical guidance for FFs to foster sustainable leadership transitions, promote gender diversity, and align ESG strategies with global market demands.