The Business Tycoon, Robert Aston: The Rise and Fall of a Family Empire

Abstract

This case shows the fall of the Aston Empire in hospitality services. It highlights the lack of succession planning that led to the collapse of the empire. Robert Aston was a renowned entrepreneur who grew a group of companies in a global environment and was able to manage and control the group in an exceptional manner. He created a diversified group of companies run by his family and was able to lead the industry in its different fields of catering, hotels, and airline hospitality. Unfortunately, the empire was divided and sold off by his family upon Aston’s death. Therefore, this case study displays the worst case scenario for the lack of implementing a successful succession plan. It illustrates how a founder can strive to create a successful, family-run group, but if he fails to plan for succession, the group fails after his death. The culture created by the founder should have lasted and been followed by future generations.