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Biography

Alexei Ovtchinnikov has significant expertise in the field of corporate finance, including financial management, mergers and acquisitions and investment performance. His research on firm capital structure changes following industry deregulation, the relation between firm politicial contributions and stock returns, changes in investors' expectations following additions to the S&P 500 Index, predictability of stock returns, and long-term spin-off returns for parent and subsidiary firms has appeared in such leading publications as the Journal of Finance, the Journal of Financial Economics, the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, and the Journal of Investment Management. Ovtchinnikov's current research interests include regulation and capital structure, regulation and mergers, and firm political contributions and stock returns.

Prior to joining HEC Paris, he served as an assistant professor of Finance at the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech and at the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. Ovtchinnikov's research and teaching have been recognized with grants, awards and distinctions, including a Research Grant award from Virginia Tech, the Purdue Research Fund (PRF) Research Grant, Purdue University's Distinguished Teaching Award and Outstanding Teaching Assistant of the Year Award from the University of California at Riverside.

He has also presented at numerous leading seminars and conferences sponsored by industry and academic institutions including the American Finance Association meetings, the Financial Management Association European meetings, and the Midwest Finance Association meetings. He currently serves as a member of the American Finance Association, the Financial Management Association, and the Western Finance Association. He has been a reviewer for the Financial Management, the Financial Review, the Journal of Banking and Finance, the Journal of Corporate Finance, the Journal of Economics and Business, the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, and the Review of Financial Studies. He has also served as a session chair and as a discussant for papers presented at the Financial Management Association meetings, the Financial Management Association European meetings, and the Midwest Finance Association meetings.

 

Scientific articles

Self-funding of Political Campaigns

Management Science, April 2023, vol. 69, n° 4, pp 2425-2448, (in coll. with P. VALTA)

Political Activism and Firm Innovation

Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, december, 2 2020, vol. 55, n° 3, pp 989-1024, (in coll. with S. W. REZA, Y. WU)

Debt decisions in deregulated industries

Journal of Corporate Finance, February 2016, vol. 36, pp 230-254,

Merger waves following industry deregulation

Journal of Corporate Finance, June 2013, vol. 21, pp 51-76,

Individual Political Contributions and Firm Performance

Journal of Financial Economics, August 2012, vol. 105, n° 2, pp 367-392, (in coll. with E. Pantaleoni)

What is the best way to trade using the January barometer?

Journal of Investment Management, 4th Term 2010, pp 58-72, (in coll. with M. Cooper, J J. McConnell)

Capital Structure Decisions: Evidence From Deregulated Industries

Journal of Financial Economics, February 2010, vol. 95, pp 249-274,

Corporate Political Contributions and Stock Returns

Journal of Finance (The), April 2010, vol. 65, pp 687-724, (in coll. with M. Cooper, H. Gulen)

Capital Market Imperfections and the Sensitivity of Investment to Stock Prices

Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, June 2009, vol. 44, pp 551-578, (in coll. with J. McConnell)

The Other January Effect

Journal of Financial Economics, November 2006, pp 315-341, (in coll. with M. Cooper, J. McConnell)

Working papers

Debt in Political Campaigns

Cahier de Recherche du Groupe HEC , 2016

Geographical Vibrancy and Firm Performance

Cahier de Recherche du Groupe HEC , 2015

Political Activism and Firm Innovation

Cahier de Recherche du Groupe HEC , 2014

Debt Decisions in Deregulated Industries

Cahier de Recherche du Groupe HEC , 2013

Scientific articles

Self-funding of Political Campaigns

Management Science, April 2023, vol. 69, n° 4, pp 2425-2448, (in coll. with P. VALTA)

Political Activism and Firm Innovation

Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, december, 2 2020, vol. 55, n° 3, pp 989-1024, (in coll. with S. W. REZA, Y. WU)

Debt decisions in deregulated industries

Journal of Corporate Finance, February 2016, vol. 36, pp 230-254,

Merger waves following industry deregulation

Journal of Corporate Finance, June 2013, vol. 21, pp 51-76,

Working papers

Education

  • Ph.D. in Finance, Krannert School of Management, Purdue University - USA
  • MBA in Finance, University of California Riverside - USA
  • BA in Business Economics, University of California, Santa Barbara - USA

Academic appointments

Academic Responsibilities at HEC

  • 2022- Professor, Finance HEC Paris
  • 2018-2022 Titulaire de la Chaire d'Analyse Financière ODDO BHF HEC Paris
  • 2013-2021 Associate Professor, Finance HEC Paris
  • 2013- Member of GREGHEC, the joint research laboratory CNRS-HEC Paris HEC Paris

External Academic Responsibilities

  • 2012-2012 Visiting Assistant Professor of Finance London Business School
  • 2007-2012 Assistant Professor of Finance Vanderbilt University
  • 2010-2010 Visiting Scholar The University of New South Wales - Australian Graduate Research School
  • 2004-2007 Assistant Professor of Finance Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)

Scientific Activities

Membership in Academic or Professional Organisation

  • Member, American Finance Association, European Finance Association, Financial Management Association, Western Finance Association

Editorial activities

  • Reviewer, Financial Management, Financial Review, International Review of Finance, Journal of Banking and Finance, Journal of Corporate Finance, Journal of Economics and Business, Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Public Choice, Review of Financial Studies

  • Conference organisation

  • 2009- Program Organizer, FMRC Conference on the Role of Government Regulation in Corporate Finance, Nashville
  • Program Committee Member, FMA European conference, Turin, 2009, Hamburg, 2010
  • Awards & honors

    • 2011 Semi-finalist for the Best Paper Award, 2011 Financial Management Association Annual Conference
    • 2011 Outstanding Paper Award for Individual political contributions and firm performance, Mid Atlantic Research Conference
    • 2011 Nominated for the Best Paper Award for Individual political contributions and firm performance, 2011 European Financial Management Association Annual Conference
    • 2009 Best Paper in Corporate Finance Award for Corporate political contributions and stock returns, Midwest Finance Association Meeting
    • 2008 Finalist, James A. Webb Jr. Teaching Award, Owen Graduate School of Management
    • 2007 Third prize winner of the Q-Groups 2007 Rodger F. Murray prize competition for Corporate political contributions and stock returns
    • 2007 Second prize winner of the Fama/DFA Prize for Capital Markets and Asset Pricing in the Journal of Financial Economics for The other January effect
    • 2004 Nominated for the Smith Breeden prize in the Journal of Finance for SP 500 Index additions and earnings expectations
    • 2002 Distinguished Teaching Award, Purdue University
    • 1998 Outstanding Teaching Assistant of the Year Award, University of California Riverside