Tycoon Succession

Most Asian conglomerates are family-controlled businesses. Succession in any family business is a tricky thing. We look at a few cases as part of the Asian Conglomerate Series.

Note: This is Part 12 in a series of articles and cases on Asian Conglomerates. Read Part 11 here. You may read more about the Asian Conglomerate Series here, or view all the published cases here.

The vast majority of Asian Conglomerates are family-controlled businesses. As a result, you would think that family succession is a big thing in the annals of Asian business. And you would be right.

The pros and cons of family-run businesses are well studied, and by this point fairly well known. At its best, controlling families — such as the Ochs-Sulzberger family (behind the New York Times), or the Fords (who still control a large chunk of the Ford Motor Company) — provide their companies with long-term vision, enduring values, and a steady hand. At its worst, ostensibly healthy businesses are crippled by family dysfunction.

This is a series on Asian Conglomerates, which means we must talk a little about succession. But in truth, whole books can and have been written about succession in family