Who will take the reins when China’s first generation of entrepreneurs retires?
2011 will force China Inc. to come of age, according to my little crystal ball. For the first time since China’s economic reforms began, CEO succession is threatening to become a major problem, particularly for globally competitive companies such as Haier, Huawei, and Lenovo. Their founders – China’s first generation of entrepreneurs – are nearing retirement, so these companies’ futures hinge on how effectively the incumbents manage leadership transitions. Indeed, the choices the founder-CEOs make may well reshape their companies, as well as the Chinese economy.
[Reprinted with permission from The China Europe International Business School.]