Newman's Own Foundation CEO on steward ownership: succession when you don’t want to sell

Newman's Own Foundation CEO on steward ownership: succession when you don’t want to sell

The Great Wealth Transfer is underway: According to McKinsey, more than six million small and medium businesses will shut down or transition ownership by 2035 as baby boomers retire. Of those businesses, a million are considered viable for sale, representing $5 trillion in enterprise value. While this moment represents a huge opportunity for buyers and investors, not every business owner wants, or has the opportunity, to sell. Many owners spent …

How Steward Ownership Offers Baby Boomer Founders an Exit That Preserves Their Legacy

Baby boomer entrepreneurs face a stark choice. Sell the company they spent decades building to private equity or a larger rival. Watch it close when no buyer appears. Or hand it to family members who may lack interest or aptitude. None of these paths sits well with founders who view their businesses as more than financial assets. Yet the numbers paint an urgent picture. McKinsey researchers estimate that by 2035 more than six million small and m…