Craig E. Aronoff
Co-Founder
aronoff@thefbcg.com
M: 678-641-9497
Areas of Expertise
- Generation Transitions
- Developing Ownership Teams
- Family and Business Governance
- Succession Planning
- Developing Family Business Policies (employment, compensation, distributions, etc.)
- Board Development and Director Selection
- Facilitating Decision Making
- Conflict Resolution
- Identifying and Articulating Family Vision, Values, Mission and Goals
After more than 30 years of consultation with family-owned businesses, I still find that every client is uniquely challenging and that helping families and their businesses to fulfill their goals is deeply meaningful work.
Resources
- Honoring Our Founders’ Mission
- Northwestern’s Center for Family Enterprises is Named for John L. Ward
- Family Businesses Need Legal Documents that Go Beyond Estate Plans
- Shared Philosophy Makes Practical Decisions Smoother
- Don’t Just Build Business, Build Your Organization
- Owners By Choice
- Record Your History—Before It’s Too Late
- A Surprise Retirement Party
- Building A Healthy Team
- Policy-Making: The Process
- Developing a Philosophy of Compensation
- Ownership Matters
- Sibling Teams: Understanding the Emotional Problems
- Pre-Mortem Beats Post-Mortem
- Next Generation Leaders: Don’t Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater
- How Young Successors Cope With Stress
- Changing Attitudes Toward Family Business Finance
- How to Transition from a Family-Run to a Family-Owned Business
- Optimizing Ownership: Values, Vision, Goals
- Developing the Sibling Partnership
- How to Get a Family Business Career Back on Track Following a Disappointing Start
- Commitment Saves Jolly Time
- The Burdens of Ownership
- Lessons on Ownership from the Sale of Knight Ridder
- An Open Letter to the Non-Family Executive
- Pay Issues Vary with Family Business Stages
- Summer Jobs for Family
- Choosing Among Siblings
- The Importance of Family Business Philanthropy
- Shirtsleeves to Shirtsleeves
Craig E. Aronoff
Co-founder and Senior Advisor of The Family Business Consulting Group, Craig is among the most respected consultants, speakers, writers and educators in the family business field. He’s worked with over 300 families in the United States and abroad in all industries and of all sizes.
As founder of the Cox Family Enterprise Center and professor emeritus at Kennesaw State University, Craig was a pioneer in family business education. His work has served as a model for over 150 universities worldwide.
An inspiring, informative and entertaining speaker on a variety of family business topics, Craig speaks regularly to trade and professional groups and has lectured at over 100 universities.
With co-author John L. Ward, Craig is perhaps the most prolific writer in the family business field. He has authored, co-authored or been editor of more than 30 books, including The Family Business Leadership Series, and is the founding editor of The Family Business Advisor.
His present and past activities in civic and community organizations include: president of the Family Firm Institute (1992-94), president of the Marietta Kiwanis, vice chairman of the Cobb (County, GA) Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Cobb Transit Advisory Board, member of the Marietta Planning Commission, and president of the Association of Private Enterprise Education.
“In all of my professional career, Craig stands out as among the most competent, knowledgeable, and effective consultants I have ever known. He epitomizes integrity and excellence in everything he does.” Frank M. Merritt, Ph.D., Executive Chairman, Talentquest
Honors
- Named by London-based Family Capital’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world of family enterprise
- Family Firm Institute’s Beckhard Award for Outstanding Contributions to Family Business Practice
- The Freedom Foundation’s Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education
- National Federation of Independent Business Foundation’s Outstanding Educator Award
- The Aronoff Professorship of Family Business at Kennesaw State University is named in his honor
- President, Family Firm Institute, 1992-94.
Education
Craig received his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, his Masters from the University of Pennsylvania, and his Doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.
Personal
Craig grew up in a family business and facilitated the transition from his father to his brother by throwing a surprise retirement party for his Dad who was resisting passing the baton (it worked!). He’s been active in his community providing leadership in Kiwanis, the Chamber of Commerce, his county’s transit advisory board, his city’s planning and zoning commission, and his synagogue. He and his wife Jane live in Marietta, GA and have three married children and six grandchildren.