Impact of digital leadership on corporate cybersecurity governance

Using panel data from Chinese A-share listed firms spanning 2013–2024, this study examines how digital leadership affects corporate cybersecurity governance. The results reveal that digital leadership is positively associated with cybersecurity governance. This effect is more pronounced for high-performance and non-state-owned enterprises. Mechanism analysis shows dual mediating pathways of digital transformation and analyst attention. Our findings remain robust across several supplementary specifications. This study contributes to upper echelons and dynamic capabilities theories by uncovering the micro foundations of cybersecurity governance and offers practical implications for firms and regulators.