Abstract: Can the IT imprints experienced by executives during sensitive periods have a lasting impact on corporate behaviour and drive digital innovation? Based on the imprinting theory, using the data of the NEEQ-Listed Companies from 2013 to 2021, this paper empirically examine the effects and mechanisms of executives with information technology background influencing corporate digital innovation by identifying digital patents to measure corporate digital innovation through text analysis. The study shows that the larger the proportion of executives with IT education or experience, the more digital patents the enterprise obtains and the higher the quality, indicating that executives with IT background promote the "quantity and quality" of enterprise digital innovation; it is further found that executives with IT background promote enterprise digital innovation through the cognitive imprint of identifying digital innovation opportunities, the skill imprint of overcoming digital technology It is further found that executives with IT background promote digital innovation through the cognitive imprint of identifying digital innovation opportunities, the skill imprint of overcoming digital technology short-sightedness, and the relational network imprint of gathering innovation factors; and when market development is insufficient and property rights protection is absent, it is more obvious that executives with IT background promote digital innovation of enterprises. This paper extends the research on the antecedents of digital innovation to provide insights on promoting digital innovation from the perspective of talent allocation and talent development.