Founder CEO Succession at Wily Technology Case Solution

Case Solution

Before he accepts the completely new CEO position, Dick Williams wants founder Lew Cirne to step lower as chairman. While considering Williams' incredible demand, Cirne reflects on everything he's already quit to acquire Wily Technology thus far. He made the decision to step lower as CEO and take exactly what is a largely symbolic CTO title. Also, he made the decision to provide Williams roughly as much equity while he themselves possessed and much more in salary. Since the founder, CEO, and chairman of Wily Technology, Cirne had labored hard to build the capabilities necessary to lead his start-up. He'd developed Wily's early technology single-handedly, had hired 50 employees to help him build his company, combined with effectively headed an effective transformation of his company. He'd introduced Wily to the level where several important clients bought its flagship product combined with effectively elevated two types of financing from top traders. Cirne miracles what he may have finished to become pressed aside similar to this. What should he do now?

Excel Calculations

Questions Covered

Question 1: Has Lew Cirne been a good CEO so far, should he defend himself & fight to remain CEO? As Lew Cirne, why would Richard Williams want to replace you as Chairman? (maximum answer: 1/3 page).

Question 2: What are the pros and cons of the approach by Wily’s Board to find a new CEO? As David Strohm, if Lew rejects Richard Williams’ demand and threatens to leave Wily, what would you do? (maximum answer: 1/3 page).

Question 3: Would you consider Lew Cirne as a high-flying founder, please argue why he is (not). Has he adopted a weak or a strong board? Please elaborate. (maximum answer: 1/3 page) 

Question 4: Kets de Vries’ clinical approach to management pays attention to the inner theatre and inner script of leaders. What is meant by this and apply these two notions to the Wily case (maximum answer: 1/3 page) 

Question 5: Is the Founder’s Rich or King dilemma (Wasserman article) relevant for understanding the Wily case and the biotechnology and healthcare sectors (as exhibited in the Williams/Duncan/Ginter article) (maximum answer: 1/3 page) ?