November 2023

Heineken’s International Expansion

Asserting his lifelong motto “I don’t sell beer, I sell warmth”, Alfred ‘Freddy’ Heineken passed away on 3 January 2002, aged 78. Known for his flamboyant lifestyle and fiery personality, Freddy was also the driving force in growing Heineken into an international brand. Heineken had the la...

November 2023

Sadler’s Wells Theatre – Compact Case

By Freek Vermeulen

Alistair Spalding, Chief Executive of Sadler’s Wells Theatre, recalled an evening back in the autumn of 2004 when he was sitting in a balcony seat in an empty, unlit theatre, watching a crew dismantle a set following a final performance. Earlier in the day, the board had confirmed Spalding’s app...

November 2023

Hornby plc: Strategic Transformation (B)

By Freek Vermeulen

In 2005 Frank Martin, CEO of Hornby, was feeling proud. Since joining in 2000, he had seen the company's share price rise from 35 to more than 250 and his strategic transformation of the firm from a toy company into a hobby company had been a resounding success. The company dominated the UK market a...

November 2023

Hornby plc: Building Communities (A)

By Freek Vermeulen

In 2005 Frank Martin, CEO of Hornby, was feeling proud. Since joining in 2000, he had seen the company's share price rise from 35 to more than 250 and his strategic transformation of the firm from a toy company into a hobby company had been a resounding success. The company dominated the UK market a...

November 2023

Royal Ahold: International growth and acquisitions

By Freek Vermeulen

On October 13 2004, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed fraud and other charges in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against Royal Ahold and three former top executives, including CEO and Chairman Cees van der Hoeven, thus terminating the career of the once-power...