Marilyn Carlson Nelson and Transition at Carlson Companies

Carlson Companies is a very successful family-owned enterprise. After years of waiting, Marilyn Carlson Nelson finally assumes leadership of the firm. She makes a number of positive changes and builds the enterprise around the Carlson credo. Much to her dismay, her son is forced to leave the company, and Marilyn must select a new CEO from outside the family. She turns the business over to Hubert Joly and a new chapter begins. Excerpt UVA-OB-0955 MARILYN CARLSON NELSON AND TRANSITION AT CARLSON COMPANIES Marilyn Carlson Nelson had successfully taken over the leadership of Carlson Companies from its founder, Curtis L. Carlson, her father. He had built the business from modest beginnings into a very successful hotel, travel, and restaurant enterprise. Curtis stepped down as CEO after turning 83. After taking over from her father, Marilyn grew the business into one of the world's largest privately held corporations. With annual sales of $ 37 billion, Carlson Companies operated in 150 countries. Her highly effective leadership guided Carlson Companies following the 9/11 tragedy, which had a negative effect on the travel and hotel industry worldwide. Marilyn was committed to family values, as defined by the Carlson credo: . . .