Family first or business first: Leadership succession in Indian businesses

The Ambani family history has proven the significance of systematic succession management while the leader is still around and active

Akash Ambani’s elevation as the chairman of Reliance Jio, which has a turnover of over Rs 80,000 crore, is the latest high-profile succession announcement in Indian family business. Because of the very high holding of the Ambani family in the company, the critical role Jio is playing in the telecom sector, and the young age of the new chairman, the new appointment has become a trigger to understand leadership succession patterns and their implications.

Criticality of succession management

Leadership succession is the most critical phase of a business as it determines the successful continuity of the business. Like a relay race, the