In an article penned by Pichaya Changsoro, Eddy Lee, the fourth-generation leader of Hong Kong sauce giant Lee KumKee Group, whose brand is synonymous with Chinese cuisine, explained how his family business survived the “succession curse” by rethinking the concept of family business management. Lee goes on to say that with the collapse of many banks and corporate giants in the Western world over the past three or four years, he says there now exists a unique opportunity for family-run businesses to show the world they possess the key to sustainability.
Lee KumKee Group is one of a handful of Chinese family owned enterprises in the world that has not only managed to survived for more than a century but has thrived after 129 years of steadfastly holding on to some unique and time tested values reinforced with a powerful succession plan model.
Established in 1888, the Lee KumKee group has a remarkable history built over five generations. Yet, despite its market leadership position and being a world-renowned brand offering an assortment of Chinese sauces, the group has not been spared of her share of family conflict as a result of business disagreements and infighting.
Major Shocks
In 1972, the third generation heir, Lee Man-tat and grandson of the founder suggested to its shareholders the importance of creating additional product lines for its oyster sauce business to reach a bigger market. But the idea did not sit well with his uncles, so the following year and with the backing from his father, Lee Man-tat ended up buying all the shares of the company.
Another setback happened In 1986 when Lee Man-tat proposed the idea of expanding the factory but ended up being rebuffed by his younger sibling who at that time owned 40 percent of the business. Due to differences in management style, Lee Man-tat offered to buy his brother’s shares.
After going through these two major corporate hiccups, Lee Man-tat ended up gaining control of the business. His five children then joined the company one after another.
The two shocks made the Lee family realized the vulnerability of the enterprise to internal conflicts so in 2002, the family agreed to set up a family council and draft a family constitution.
Family First, Business Second
The core value of Lee KumKee is “family first, business second,” there other values according to writer Alan Lee Ka-Fai that are worth emulating by family business owners and these are the following:
- Entrepreneurship is Key: The family requires the successors to stay as entrepreneurs as “it does not believe one would succeed in keeping the business without instant innovation and thinking out of the box.” The family business will not be able to stay on long unless it always maintains the mindset of entrepreneurs.
- Governance System Must be in Place: Apart from family values, the family constitution and family council are two key elements of family governance. These elements would help build trust among family members and cement family ties.
- The family motto also underlines achieving a win-win situation
Additionally, I have included some of the powerful values I mentioned in my article last week namely:
- Put Others First, before yourself
- Pragmatism
- Integrity and
- Benefitting the community
According to Dr. Amen Lee, President of Legacy Academy, developing a long-term vision is a key element. He goes on to espouse the five dimensions that includes the practice of family values, continuation of family relationship, passing on of family knowledge, management of family wealth and succession of family business.
Inevitably, for family enterprises aspiring to become legacy bearers, the key is to pass on the values of the first-generation entrepreneurs, including their core concepts and life wisdom.
For writer Allan Lee Ka-fai, he concluded that “Family businesses which have lasted more than 100 years usually have a very unique understanding of family, business and relationships, and pass it on to the next generation as the family legacy.”/WDJ