Consider the impact of the year.

Enhancing corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance is a critical issue garnering widespread attention across various sectors. This research examines the impact of executives with overseas backgrounds on corporate ESG performance, utilizing a two-way fixed-effects model with data from Chinese A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen spanning from 2008 to 2022. The findings indicate that: (ⅰ) executives with overseas backgrounds positively influence corporate ESG performance, with this effect amplifying as the proportion of such executives within the executive team increases; (ⅱ)both internal and external pay gaps significantly positively moderate the relationship between overseas background executives and corporate ESG performance; (ⅲ) the influence of overseas executives on ESG performance is more pronounced in state-owned enterprises, large-scale firms, firms in the eastern region, and those in high-pollution industries. This study expands the understanding of factors affecting corporate ESG performance, offers empirical insights for listed companies aiming to enhance their ESG performance, and provides valuable implications for executive team construction, executive compensation strategies, government talent policies, and the pursuit of high-quality economic development.

提升企业环境、社会和治理（ESG，Environmental, Social, and Governance）绩效是当前各行业广受关注的关键议题。本研究以2008至2022年沪深两市中国A股上市公司为研究样本，采用双向固定效应模型，考察了具有海外背景的高管对企业ESG绩效的影响。研究结果显示：其一，具有海外背景的高管对企业ESG绩效具有显著正向影响，且该促进效应随高管团队中海外背景高管占比的提升而进一步增强；其二，企业内部与外部薪酬差距均对海外背景高管与企业ESG绩效的正向关联起到显著的正向调节作用；其三，海外背景高管对ESG绩效的提升作用在国有企业、大规模企业、东部地区企业以及高污染行业企业中更为显著。本研究拓展了企业ESG绩效影响因素的认知，为上市公司提升ESG绩效提供了经验证据，同时对高管团队建设、高管薪酬策略、政府人才政策制定以及推动经济高质量发展均具有重要的实践启示。