In our 2012 book Genesis of the Board, José María Navarro-Rubio and I explore the concurrence of three distinct spheres in family-controlled firms – ownership, business and management – which business owners must address in parallel. First is the ownership strategy, which outlines the owners’ vision in terms of the type of company they aspire […]
Types of shareholders in family-owned firms
Family-owned businesses, especially later-generation firms, are supported by different types of stakeholders: shareholders, investors and owners. There’s a fourth category – speculator – that I’m omitting since it’s not worth mentioning. In my view, there is no wealth creation derived from speculation, which moreover, rarely occurs in family firms. So what are the differences between […]
Institutional configuration in family firms: the board of directors
Like all companies, family-owned businesses require initiative, power and financial resources in order to excel. For those that aspire to transition from firm to institution, however, additional structures and processes are needed. While no one is immortal, institutions are born to transcend generations. They don’t depend on the will or whims of one specific person […]