It’s been a family business for generations (and generations). The son has been waiting to run the organization—forever—but the CEO has been unwilling to give up any power until now. Could a job-share solution solve a sticky wicket of a succession situation?
Could be, according to reports from the U.K., where Charles, Prince of Wales, who will turn 65 this summer, may finally get his chance to reign on a parade. Sources at Buckingham Palace say that 87-year-old Queen Elizabeth is ready to cut down on business travel and is allowing Charles to represent her at the annual Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference, to be held this year in Sri Lanka.
The pressure may be on Queen Elizabeth to job share, since Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands recently stepped down from the throne in favor of her son, Prince Willem-Alexander, especially since Queen Beatrix is only 75 and her son is only 46.
The succession was also eased by tradition; Queen Beatrix’s mother, Queen Juliana, had abdicated so Beatrix could rule. However, this type of succession planning is not the SOP with the British royals.
Queen Elizabeth averages over 300 “engagements” per year, so this job does not come with a lot of time off. Of course, you do get royal treatment when you travel. But the Queen likes her husband, Prince Philip, to accompany her, and at age 92, he may be ready to semi-retire as well.
So at 65, when most workers have retired, or are thinking about it, Prince Charles is starting a new, not encore, career.
Source: www.cnn.com