The fall of the once mighty Cosmos soft drink company

I T I S e x t r e mely it with governance and skills, honest and fair. He important for my readers succession, then we have also had the vision and to reflect on t he f ive successfully played our foresight and his brothers insights shared by my role as Family Business and sisters obeyed and colleague, Prof. Danny advisors to the hilt. respected him. Soon Barrenechea. These In the words of Louis the Cosmos Brand grew powerful insights, when Farrakhan, an American while the local players embraced by every family Political Leader, “United we disappeared one after member, represent the can solve our problem and another. At its peak, it collective aspirations of a divided we have nothing.” became a fight between family business. Cosmos, a local player

versus Coke and Pepsi. Danny is no stranger to While t he business family business dynamics. grew, Danny was already Similarly I am sharing He belonged to a family being groomed to succeed these aspirations again that started the pioneering his father. After graduating as a reminder to family Cosmos Soft Drinks Salutatorian from Xavier businesses embroiled in brand in 1918 when his School in 1961, he was a dispute with both sides grandfather, Wong Ning, sent to the US to complete in a state of heightened a native of Kwantong his college education. acrimony, that there will Province migrated to the He fondly relates during never be a clear winner in Philippines and established one of our exchanges… a family conflict. the Manila Aerated Water “My father got me into

* A healthy and stable Factory along Misericordia UCLA and after graduation, All the dreams business but ready to Street in Manila. he sent me to the University of Papa went down the explore opportunities When World War II broke of San Francisco for my drain.”

* A h e a l t h y a n d out, the Japanese Army MBA. My father followed Papa is dead! Now what? harmonious family, free incarcerated Wong Ning a succession plan and he The s t ockholders, from any major conflict because of his affiliation was sort of preparing me to composed of Henry’s

*A family business that with t he Kuomintang help in the business since I three brothers, a cousin, thrives on professionalism, government. He later died was the eldest boy. He even a nephew and Danny, met excellence and meritocracy in prison. Wong Ning left assured me that if I do well, after the burial to decide

*A family business that seven children. I will take over the top spot. who will succeed Henry as will transition to a family President. inspired business run by Following Chinese professional leaders and The name of Danny’s Danny recalls t hat Tradition, the members finally father was Henry and fateful day in 1970… “while of the immediately family

*A family business that being the eldest boy, by attending the graduation of would always have the embraces governance tradition, must naturally my other brother in the US, preferential status over and stewardship so it will assume the responsibility papa suffered a stroke which the secondary families. continue from generation of managing the family was caused by a tumor in his Danny was next in line. to generation business. brain. The stroke paralyzed With t he death of

When family members Henry was well - half of Papa’s body. He Henry, will Danny the i n t e r n a l i z e t h e s e educated, armed with a was devastated! After the eldest son be the anointed aspirations and reinforced PhD, exhibited leadership operation, the verdict was successor?/