This article investigates the interactive effects of chief executive officer (CEO) age and CEO attitudes toward younger and
older employees on organisational age cultures. Data was collected from 66 CEOs of small and medium-sized businesses and 274
employees. Results were consistent with expectations based on organisational culture and upper echelons theories. The relationship
between CEO age and organisational age culture for younger employees was negative for CEOs with a less positive attitude toward
younger employees and positive for those with a more positive attitude toward younger employees. The relationship between
CEO age and organisational age culture for older employees was positive for CEOs with a more positive attitude toward older
employees and non-significant for those with a less positive attitude toward older employees. The findings provide initial
support for the existence of organisational age cultures, suggesting that these cultures can be predicted by the interplay
of CEO age and age-related attitudes.
