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Family Business

GEEF: raising the awareness of family enterprise issues in Europe

January 1, 2002

Krister Ahlstromis a busy man. As head of one of Europe’s biggest independent companies, Finland’s Ahlstrom Corporation, he oversaw enormous change as the business diversified and globalised from its origins in the paper industry.

Krister Ahlstromis a busy man. As head of one of Europe's biggest independent companies, Finland's Ahlstrom Corporation, he oversaw enormous change as the business diversified and globalised from its origins in the paper industry.

Ahlstrom himself built a reputation as a sound corporate thinker, a man who has won widespread acclaim for his ideas on corporate governance, and on the management of change within family enterprises. As a result, he is in demand at numerous conferences and seminars.

Family performance indices

January 1, 2002

Surprising realities about large family businesses in France

When the words 'family business' are mentioned, some people still think it refers to smaller companies – backward-looking firms with their roots in the past and doomed to disappear. Even though national surveys from many countries regularly suggest that four of every five business enterprises operate under family ownership and control, their predominance is perceived as exaggerated or in some way abstract. The prevalent model of 'business'– communicated by business schools and referred to in the media – is that of a large company, traded on the stock exchange, and with spread ownership.

Week at the top

January 1, 2002

Jose Ferrer is President of Freixenet SA, the world’s largest sparkling wine producer, with wineries in Spain, France, California and Mexico. As he prepares the next generation for the challenges of working in the family business, he tells us what he encounters during a ‘typical’ working week

José Ferrer is President of Freixenet SA, the world's largest sparkling wine producer, with wineries in Spain, France, California and Mexico. As he prepares the next generation for the challenges of working in the family business, he tells us what he encounters during a 'typical' working week

Monday

The Family Firm Institute in Europe...

January 1, 2002

Families in Business talks to Peter Leach, Chairman of the Stoy Centre, and co-Chairman of the first FFI conference to be held in Europe

"Running a successfulfamily business is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle – unless all the pieces fit together exactly, it's a mess, "says Peter Leach, Chairman of The Stoy Centre for Family Business.

"Recently, so many pieces of the jigsaw have changed that we're now looking at a different picture. From now on, the speed of change is likely to be so fast that the family business sector will be less like a jigsaw, and more like a moving image.

Family business in Australia

January 1, 2002

Family businesses in Australia account for 40% of Australia’s private sector output, but they are heading for a period of unprecedented change

A vast number offamily companies in Australia will have new owners or managers within a decade, This article is based on a recent study, The Australia Family and Private Business Survey 1997, conducted by myself and Claudio Romano, a fellow Director at the AXA Family Business Research Unit. Our research, which included a sample size of 1500 family firms, found that the family business sector has concerns for the future, is not planning effectively and is heading for a period of unprecedented change – namely changes in the ownership and control of family held corporations.

The Family Firm Institute in Europe...

September 1, 2001

Families in Business talks to Peter Leach, Chairman of the Stoy Centre, and co-Chairman of the first FFI conference to be held in Europe

"Running a successful family business is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle – unless all the pieces fit together exactly, it's a mess," says Peter Leach, Chairman of The Stoy Centre for Family Business.