There's a reason it starts with Success...

I wrote a post years ago (yes, TBG Now! has been around that long) about the value of succession planning. It's funny, companies are actually starting to get it. I'm hearing CEO's talking more and more often of the elusive plane carrying the senior team of an organization having a mishap. So, as you can imagine we're spending more time with organizations hammering out their list of possible candidates, and continually tinkering with the 'order' of the people as things in the marketplace change.

So, it's interesting to watch the importance of a robust succession plan play out, in this case with Canadian Tire: (from Globeandmail.com)

Succession planning gone awry led to the early departure of Canadian Tire's chief executive officer Thursday.

Wayne Sales stepped down as CEO, effective immediately, making way for Tom Gauld to come out of retirement and take his place after less than two months in retirement.

The unexpected turn of events was set in motion by the departure of yet another top company veteran, Mark Foote, who led the company's retail business.

About a year ago, Canadian Tire's board of directors decided it needed a succession plan to prepare for June, 2007, when Mr. Sales's contract expired. The board had three internal candidates in mind.

Yes, about a year ago.. zoiks..

The Bottom line is that the plan is important. Sorry, financial plan - no, strategic plan - not in this case, yes, the Succession plan.

China Inc.

Yesterday, I bought some software. Thrilling - I know...

While trying to figure out if I'm VAT exempt, I complete my order, assuming that I was dealing with an EU company. When I get my receipt in my inbox, it turns out that I was actually dealing with a programmer in Shanghai... I'm thinking - cool!

Yes, China Inc. is open for business. Count me in as another customer.

Timely as it may seem, an article in this morning's Globe and Mail on the fact that China is solidifying its position in the global market:

"China is not just a huge market . . . it is also now becoming the birthplace for a lot of companies that have the potential to move into Western markets," said Malte Nuhn, an analyst with Millward Brown Optimor, which compiled the study. "We certainly will expect more Chinese companies to enter the top 100 in the next few years."

The point of the article is that the Top 100 Global Brands had a surprise addition to its top 10, namely China Mobile. Here's the top 10, just to show the magnitude of the shift:

Value in $million:

1. Microsoft 62,039

2. GE 55,834

3. Coca-Cola 41,406

4. China Mobile 39,168

5. Marlboro 38,510

6. Wal-Mart 37,567

7. Google 37,445

8. IBM 36,084

9. Citibank 31,028

10. Toyota 30,201

Yes, ahead of Toyota, Wal-Mart, and Google...