Stef­fen Bren­ner

I study how international contexts shape managerial decision-making and top-management-team selection. Because CEOs’ choices ripple through innovation, jobs, fairness, and sustainability, my work aims to make executive decisions both ethical and economically effective.

My research helps:

companies design incentive and governance systems (e.g., CEO pay, media oversight) that curb misconduct and align with long-term value;

organizations build inclusive leadership pipelines (gender & migrant executives) that win employee support;

boards and policymakers tailor practices to institutional settings, from investor protection to aging workforces.

I use game-theoretic models, archival data, and large surveys. Findings in leading journals have received international awards. I review for top outlets, supervise PhDs, and collaborate with practitioners. 

My ambition is to deliver evidence-based tools that let companies do the right thing—and perform better while doing it.