Page 34 - Fisherman's Friend Case Study

"It keeps things simple. We have no other shareholders and
no boardroom. We just talk things through in the office or at

home." (1)

The board has only three directors, Doreen, Tony and

Doreen’s son Duncan who is the youngest of the

Lofthouse line, with no heir apparent.

“A board of three seems small ("We have executives, but no

other directors," Doreen Lofthouse explains, "because it's our

job to infect employees with enthusiasm"), the firm's

eponymous First Couple recoil in horror. "We don't believe in

sitting still because you end up going backwards," notes the

firm's MD. "But as to the running of the company, we'll go on

as we are while we can. Tony and I got on well even though

we're remarried. I'm the sort that dives into a swimming

pool. Tony checks to make sure there's water in it first." (7)

“Tony supervises production and Duncan runs the financial

side. Both cheerfully acknowledge that the chairman - and
she is always the chairman - is the real boss.

Her business acumen came as no surprise to Tony. "She has

always been full of energy and has the ability to spot
opportunities whenever they arise. She has a natural instinct

for business." (2)