This study is preliminary research examining how foreign owners have constrained Estonian top managers' actions and why they have forced them to leave their enterprises. It is based on eight cases. The research findings indicate that the executives trying to reach higher autonomy from the parent corporation may be forced to leave their companies. This might happen even if they are showing sound economic results and the two countries are (culturally) relatively close. The paper points out to some contradictions in the current literature regarding top managers' roles. It includes some future research implications.