以下摘自考研英语文章：

Although a correlation between them leaving and subsequent bad performance at the firm is suggestive, it does not mean that such directors are always jumping off a sinking ship.

【参考译文】尽管外部董事离任与其公司随后的糟糕表现之间的关联性“引人联想”，但这并不意味着此类董事总是“跳离沉船”。

【我的疑问】此句中表示“他们离开”为什么要用them leaving？them一般是作为宾语的写法，宾语怎么能再接一个分词呢？改成their leaving可以吗？

谢谢专家！