15 February 2003

The night of the patriarch. Anheuser-Busch has its first non-family CEO

Everybody wants to do the right thing, but many fail badly. Dynastic successions seem natural, don’t always come to fruition but often raise an eyebrow. Especially if the heir apparent is being passed over in favour of a manager. As happened at the world’s major brewer, Anheuser-Busch.

In the sceptre is passed on safely, all’s well that ends well. But what if the sceptre is dropped and goes to pieces? Well, that’s material for a tragedy which will move people to tears even centuries later. Remember King Lear and his three daughters? If you will, Lear’s tragedy is also the story of a succession gone wrong. When in old age, Lear decides to retire and chooses to share out his kingdom among his heirs, he unknowingly kicks off the dramatic action." (King Lear, Act I).
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