Governance in Family Enterprises (PDF)

Dr Alexander Koeberle-Schmid is an economist from a business-owning family. He wrote his PhD about boards of directors and family councils in family enterprises. Alexander is a family business advisor, who has worked for renowned consulting and family business advisory firms. He advises owner families of medium-sized to large multinational family enterprises in owner strategic issues such as governance structures, management succession, boards of directors, family councils, family offices, family philanthropy, and family constitutions. He has worked as a commercial mediator, was non-executive board member of a medium-sized family enterprise, and is in frequent demand as a speaker and lecturer.

Denise Kenyon-Rouvinez, PhD, is the Wild Group Professor of Family Business and co-director of the Global Family Business Center at IMD, Switzerland. For nearly 20 years Denise has worked extensively with very large family businesses in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North and South America and is used to deal with complex governance and wealth situations. Her key areas of expertise are governance, succession, liquidity events, ownership, wealth and philanthropy. Denise is also a certified coach working with the Solution Focused Coaching approach (based on brief therapies and positive psychology) and an accredited Lifo® Licensee. She has written several books and articles on family businesses and has received several awards for her research work.

Ernesto J. Poza is an internationally recognized, top-rated speaker and consultant to family-owned businesses. He is Clinical Professor of Global Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise at the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He is founder of E. J. Poza Associates, a consulting firm that has assisted family businesses in their continuity efforts for the past 25 years. He has written seven books and editions and over 50 articles in professional journals and been quoted in periodicals, including the Financial Times,

'Governance in Family Enterprises is the most comprehensive and practical resource on best practices. The authors appreciate that governance is more art than science, and they bring particularly special insights into governing family offices, family foundations and serial enterprising families. The book is greatly enriched with wonderfully global examples and role models.'

- John L. Ward, Clinical Professor of Family Enterprises, Kellogg School of Management, USA

'With over fifty years of experience as researchers and advisors to family enterprises, these authors combine their insights on family and business governance to provide a thought-provoking account of governance systems, how to bring them to life and modify them as they evolve over time. A valuable educational guide for advisors and family members alike!'

- Pramodita Sharma, Sanders Professor of Family Business, University of

Vermont and Editor, Family Business Review

'This book allows family businesses and their business-owning families to develop their very specific governance and dare to manage crises themselves. An excellent contribution to the world of family businesses.'

-Andrea Prym-Bruck, Prym, Germany, founded in 1540, XIX generation