What do the world's leading family businesses and family offices know that you do not?
Grow your business and strengthen your family relationships; Learn from successful business families and leading experts.
The Forum is designed to be a friendly and safe environment for you to find the answers to your toughest family business questions. It will address issues that apply to any family firm or family office and families join from 30-plus countries and every continent.
20th Anniversary Family Busines Forum (virtual event)
Our 20th Anniversary Family Business Forum will take place on June 8-10, 2021 and it will be a virtual event. Please simply click here to hold your places on option at the lowest early rate.
Live family cases discussed in virtual groups
What makes the Forum really special is the range of live family cases covered over two-and-a-half days. In many sessions, participants hear about a challenge faced by a family speaker, discuss the case in virtual groups, then learn about what the family actually did. In others, they engage in an interactive dialogue with the speaker. The final morning is a peer-to-peer discussion with the topics chosen by you and the other participants. Two globally-respected family business experts (both are Professors, teachers and authors on family business) will facilitate discussions and contribute their own ideas: Mr Peter Leach of Imperial College, London, author of "Family Enterprises, The Essentials" and Prof. Denise Kenyon-Rouvinez formerly Wild Group Professor of Family Business, Family Office, Governance, IMD Business School.
Tuesday
8 June, 2021
8 June, 2021
The Family Business Forum is designed exclusively for family members with family firms or family offices. Each day, you will hear from and work with families from every continent, discussing real-life family cases in small groups.
Family Business Dynamics
Mr. Peter Leach (United Kingdom)
An Introduction
Mr. Peter Leach
(United Kingdom)
Adjunct Professor in Family Business, Imperial College London
Founder and Chairman, Peter Leach Associates Ltd
Author “Family Enterprises, The Essentials”
Founder and Chairman, Peter Leach Associates Ltd
Author “Family Enterprises, The Essentials”
One of the world’s leading teachers, writers and consultants on family business, Peter Leach has worked with hundreds of business families across the world. Peter will facilitate discussions, draw conclusions and contribute his own presentations. His opening session will introduce several key concepts that will be addressed in more detail by the family speakers.
Peugeot - An Industrial Family's Story
Mr. Frédéric Banzet (France)
The Changing Relationship Between a Family and its Businesses
Mr. Frédéric Banzet
(France)
Eighth Generation Peugeot Family Member; Senior Partner, FFP S.A. and Chairman and CEO of FFP UK, Former Chief Executive Officer of the Citroën brand
Beginning in 1810, the Peugeot family’s industrial heritage started with coffee grinders, followed by bicycles and today PSA Group is Europe’s second-biggest car manufacturer with brands including Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Opel and Vauxhall.
Frédéric Banzet will discuss how the family’s business focus has evolved through its holding in FFP, a long-term investment company, majority-owned by Etablissements Peugeot Frères. In 2014, the family gave up somewhat partial control of its car business, through an imposed restructuring of the capital.
Over the last 20 years, the Peugeot family has drawn from its industrial experience to develop diversified assets. This move also helped support a successful turnaround. Frédéric will explain how their family governance has allowed different family points of view to coalesce into a common approach leading towards strategic renewal.
Group Discussion – How Has Your Own Family Handled Difficult Decisions?
Participants will work in virtual groups to share experiences of difficult decisions that their own families have faced.
What went well and what could have been handled better (with the process and outcome)?
What went well and what could have been handled better (with the process and outcome)?
Live Family Case - Lee Kum Kee, Hong Kong
Mr. Sammy Lee
Ms. Andrea Lee
Ms. Andrea Lee
Family Governance, Succession and Invisible Leadership
Mr. Sammy Lee
Chairman, Chief Invisible Officer & Chief Happiness Officer, LKK Health Products Group Limited
Ms. Andrea Lee
Head of Family Office, Lee Kum Kee Family
The Lee Kum Kee story began in 1888, when founder Lee Kum Sheung accidentally created oyster sauce when making soup. Today, Lee Kum Kee is a global brand leader in Asian sauces and healthcare products.
By 2005, at the start of this case, Sammy Lee and three of his fourth-generation (G4) siblings were running substantial businesses under their father’s chairmanship. They realized they needed to spend more time on strategic issues including succession planning.
We will hear from Sammy about the comprehensive systems that the family actually implemented under G4 leadership. These included creating a family council, family office and family training centre. There were many innovations such as a rotating “casting vote” in the event of a tie and that, once used, had to be passed on to another family leader.
Typical Group Discussion Topic – The Succession Challenge
At the start of the case, G5 family members were teenagers and young adults with their own aspirations and views.
What next steps in the Lee family G4 to G5 succession would you have recommended?
What next steps in the Lee family G4 to G5 succession would you have recommended?
Bringing the case upto the present day, the final session will review what actually happened during the G4 to G5 succession process. Andrea Lee (G5), who has recently taken over the role of Head of Family Office, will join her uncle Sammy Lee (G4) to discuss their gradual next-generation transition, its challenges and successes. They will also discuss some of Lee Kum Kee’s powerful strategic business innovations such as the Auto-pilot Leadership Model to provide direction (but not direct command) and a Happiness Index to monitor success.
After the day’s closing session, participants are invited to join a virtual reception hosted by Edmond de Rothschild
Wednesday
9 June, 2021
9 June, 2021
Today’s sessions will answer your toughest questions on family business topics including: family leadership and influence on culture, family training, next generation development and responding to acute global challenges.
Business Values and Culture
Mr. Andy Rubin (United Kingdom)
Family Influence and Leadership
Mr. Andy Rubin
(United Kingdom)
Chair, Pentland Brands plc
Founded in 1932 as a shoe business in Liverpool, the family later bought then sold Reebok, using the proceeds to help create a “family of brands”. Today, Pentland is a family-owned leader in sport and fashion with brands including Speedo, Ellesse, Canterbury, and a majority share in global retailer JD Sports.
Andy Rubin, member of the third generation and Chair of the brand division, will outline the company’s unique culture, recognised by awards including “Best Corporate Workplace in the UK” and the “2017 IMD/FBN Global Family Business Award”.
Family Training and Development
Dr. Basma Sulaiman Al Zamil (Saudi Arabia)
Developing Responsible, Self-Empowered Individuals
Dr. Basma Sulaiman Al Zamil
(Saudi Arabia)
General Manager, Corporate Human Resources, Zamil Group
At Zamil, an international industrial and services Group, the second generation had long-recognized the need to empower the third and fourth generations effectively.
Group Discussion – Next Generation Preparation and Development
How is your family preparing your next generation members for future roles (within or outside the business)?
High-Energy Discussion Groups
Prof. Denise Kenyon-Rouvinez (Switzerland)
Responsible Ownership; The Global Challenge
Prof. Denise Kenyon-Rouvinez
(Switzerland)
Formerly Wild Group Professor of Family Business, Family Office, Governance IMD Business School
Prof. Kenyon-Rouvinez has worked extensively with family firms around the world, including in her recent role at IMD. Author of many books, she is also a member of the World Economic Expert Network.
Denise will explain how family firms are best-positioned to respond to global challenges because families control their ownership, and hence, strategic business direction. Working in high-energy virtual groups, participants will discuss acute global challenges and how they might help address them.
After the day’s closing session, participants are invited to join a virtual networking reception
Thursday
10 June, 2021
10 June, 2021
The final day is devoted exclusively to peer-to-peer advice and discussion. In feedback each year, this workshop is rated as the most valuable part of the Forum.
Facilitator: Mr. Peter Leach
(United Kingdom)
Adjunct Professor in Family Business, Imperial College London; Author “Family Enterprises, The Essentials”
Founder and Chairman, Peter Leach Associates Ltd.
Founder and Chairman, Peter Leach Associates Ltd.
It is the opportunity for participants to seek advice on whatever questions are on their minds by drawing on the hard-earned experience of the other families and feedback from the facilitator.
Workshop facilitator Peter Leach is a leading advisor, teacher and writer, helping family owners around the world. His work includes creating governance structures, facilitating next generation participation and drafting family constitutions.
Participants will work in virtual discussion groups to explore their own challenges or opportunities. Peter will answer outstanding questions so that participants leave the Forum with clear next steps.
The Family Business Forum is sponsored by (in alphabetical order):
To download and print out a copy of the 20th Anniversary Family Business Forum Colour Programme, please download here: Download the brochure
Please simply indicate early interest here to hold places on option at the Lowest Early Bird Rate.
