In this dissertation, I first suggest an extension of the managerial rents model and more specifically the managerial skills typology that it offers. Building on research in international business, I propose adding country-specific skills (CSS) to this typology in addition to firm-specific, industry-specific, and generic skills. I define CSS as managers’ abilities that are applicable and specific to a particular national institutional context. Such skills are distinct from the other three types identified and are likely to influence managers’ performance and the performance of their firms. So if CSS are distinct skills, what are the implications for strategy and international business research? In an attempt to respond to this question, I conduct two empirical essays in which I examine the implications of this refinement of the typology of managerial skills for CEO selection and firms’ mergers and acquisitions (M&A) strategy. In the first empirical essay, I puzzle at the fact that although CSS constitute a barrier to high-level executive mobility across countries, there have been a growing number of foreign-born CEOs being appointed across the globe. Why are these individuals being selected for the post of CEO? Using information on the appointment of foreign-born and national CEOs from 2005 to 2010 among global 500 companies, I show that internationalization pressures help explain their selection and that two types of firms are likely to appoint foreign leaders: highly internationalized firms and firms that are likely to internationalize. In the second empirical essay, I examine the strategic implications of country-specific skills. Employing the same sample as the one used in the first empirical essay, I demonstrate that given that their mindset is likely to be less focused on firms’ home market, foreign-born CEOs may be prone to institute more changes in firms’ cross-border M&A strategy than their domestic counterparts. I also theorize on the moderating influence of CEOs’ insiderness.

Over the past decade, the Swedish pension funds AP1, AP2, AP3, and AP4 have significantly increased their capital allocation towards unlisted real estate. This study explores the investment strategies of these AP funds, examining the methods used in asset class investments, risk mitigation measures, responses to macroeconomic threats, and investment returns. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates semi-structured interviews with fund representatives and statistical analysis of data from annual reports.  Findings indicate that the AP funds have capitalized on post-financial crisis real estate market dynamics, particularly evident in investments initiated in the years after the crisis. Notably, AP1, AP3, and AP4 have gained good returns through sector diversification, contrasting with AP2’s less successful geographic diversification. Investments are primarily direct or joint ventures in unlisted real estate firms, avoiding PERE-funds due to their shorter holding periods and high costs. Risk is mitigated through extended holding periods, strategic partner selection, board involvement, and analysis of megatrends. The low risk-free rate environment that has been in Sweden for the last decade has significantly supported the unrealized returns from the investments. Future capital allocation should focus on non-competing sectors, reinvestments in existing assets, and identification of new trends to enhance sector investability. / Under det senaste decenniet har de svenska pensionsfonderna AP1, AP2, AP3 och AP4 ökat sin tillgångsallokering avsevärt i onoterade fastigheter. Denna studie utforskar investeringsstrategierna för dessa AP-fonder och granskar de metoder som används i investeringarna i tillgångsklassen, vilka åtgärder som görs för riskminimering samt hur makroekonomiska hot minimeras och vilka avkastningarna investeringarna gett. Genom att använda en blandad metod använder studien semistrukturerade intervjuer med fondrepresentanter och statistisk analys av data från årsredovisningar. Resultaten visar att AP-fonderna har kapitaliserat på dynamiken på fastighetsmarknaden efter finanskrisen, särskilt tydligt i investeringar som initierades åren efter krisen. Noterbart är att AP1, AP3 och AP4 har uppnått betydande avkastningar genom sektordiversifiering, i kontrast till AP2:s mindre framgångsrika geografiska diversifiering. Investeringarna sker främst direkt eller via klubbstrukturer i onoterade fastighetsföretag, där PERE-fonder undviks på grund av deras kortare hållperioder och oproportionerliga kostnader. Riskminimering uppnås genom långa investeringshorisonter, strategiskt partnerurval, styrelseengagemang och analys av megatrender. Den låga riskfria räntemiljön som varit i Sverige det senaste decenniet har avsevärt stöttat de orealiserade avkastningarna från investeringarna. Framtida kapitalallokeringar bör fokusera på icke-konkurrerande sektorer, återinvesteringar i befintliga bolag och identifiering av nya trender för att hitta sektorer som blivit investerbara.