The Ex-CEO Contemplates a Coup

When should a family business give up on an outside leader?

by

William C. Kirby

by

William C. Kirby

From the Magazine (June 2013)

HBR’s fictionalized case studies present dilemmas faced by leaders in real companies and offer solutions from experts. This one is based on research by William C. Kirby.

A version of this article appeared in the June 2013 issue of Harvard Business Review.

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WK

William C. Kirby is the Spangler Family Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and the T. M. Chang Professor of China Studies at Harvard University. His latest book, co-authored with Regina Abrami and F. Warren McFarlan, is Can China Lead? (HBR Press, 2014). He is the co-author, with Joycelyn Eby, Adam Mitchell, and Shuang Lu, of the case study, “Uber in China: Driving in the Gray Zone” (2016).

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Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Leading People. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.

What you need to know about being in charge.

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The Ex-CEO Contemplates a Coup

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