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Executive Departures Without Client Losses: The Role Of Multiplex Ties In Exchange Partner Retention

The Academy of Management Journal

Published online on

Abstract

To reduce vulnerability to exchange relationship loss when executives leave, firms often form multiple ties to the same exchange partners. Despite the assumed importance of interorganizational multiplexity for relationship retention, theory and evidence for its effect are lacking. Analysis of a longitudinal sample of client ties of advertising firms confirms that in general multiplexity improves retention. However, only relationships that span intra-organizational units with convergent interests reduce the positive effect of advertising agency executive departures on client tie loss. The findings highlight the need to consider the implications of intraorganizational structure for theories of interorganizational relationship retention and suggest an additional rationale for the persistence of the holding company structure in professional services firms despite limited returns to scale.