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by BBC World Service
When you’re born into a powerful business dynasty, what comes first: the family or the firm? And when it comes to passing on control, who gets the top job? Inheritance explores the family dramas behind some of the world's biggest businesses. NEW from Inheritance: the Agnelli family, the equivalent of Italian royalty. Their influence extends far beyond business into politics, sport, culture and Italy's national identity. Their empire includes Fiat, Ferrari and Juventus Football Club. But when the family is hit by a series of tragedies, it causes a fracture that will echo down the generations. Previously on Inheritance: Samsung. When the Samsung Chairman has a heart attack, his heir is pushed into the spotlight. The complex manoeuvring to secure his succession re-opens old family wounds, prompts one of the biggest scandals in South Korea’s history, and – eventually – helps to bring down a President.
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A tragic accident throws Fiat’s succession plan into crisis, and sparks a bitter custody battle that tears the Agnelli family apart. As Fiat’s founder, Giovanni Agnelli, is forced to look at other potential heirs to his throne, one likely candidate emerges – a grandson. But with war looming over Europe, it’s not clear whether he, or the business, will survive. Presenter: Sofia Bettiza Series producer: Simon Tulett Producer: Bob Howard Fact-checkers: Adriana Urbano and Randa Darwish Music: Thomas Ross Fitzsimons Sound engineer: Richard Hannaford Series editor: Matt Willis With special thanks to Jennifer Clark, Michele Masneri, Rachel Sanderson, Andrea Colli, and, also, Octavia Woodward. Senior commissioning producer: Sarah Green Commissioning editor: Jon Manel Inheritance is a BBC Long Form Audio production
Fiat’s founder, Giovanni Agnelli, begins building his dynasty, but his power could be checked by a rising and ruthless political star – Benito Mussolini. Will Fiat - now at the centre of Italy’s political, economic and cultural life – be free to plot its own path under fascism, or will Giovanni need to bend to the dictator? Plus, as Giovanni’s son is groomed to succeed him, the family’s fortunes take an unexpected turn.Presenter: Sofia Bettiza Series producer: Simon Tulett Producer: Bob Howard Fact-checkers: Adriana Urbano and Randa Darwish Music: Thomas Ross Fitzsimons Sound engineer: Richard Hannaford Series editor: Matt Willis With special thanks to Jennifer Clark, Michele Masneri, Rachel Sanderson, Andrea Colli, and, also, Octavia Woodward. Senior commissioning producer: Sarah Green Commissioning editor: Jon Manel Inheritance is a BBC Long Form Audio production
Gianni Agnelli is the head of the family that controls Fiat, and the vast business empire beyond the carmaker that helped shape modern Italy. Charming, charismatic and powerful, he's regarded by many as Italy’s unofficial king, and his family de facto royalty. When he dies the country is plunged into mourning and fear for its economic future. But Gianni’s death also triggers an inheritance dispute that will shake his family to its core. As old wounds re-open, competing ambitions emerge and the business itself drifts towards bankruptcy, a question looms: if the empire does survive, which member of the Agnelli family – if any of them – will be in charge? Presenter: Sofia Bettiza Series producer: Simon Tulett Producer: Bob Howard Fact-checkers: Adriana Urbano and Randa Darwish Music: Thomas Ross Fitzsimons Sound engineer: Richard Hannaford Series editor: Matt Willis With special thanks to Jennifer Clark, Michele Masneri, Rachel Sanderson, Andrea Colli, and, also, Octavia Woodward. Senior commissioning producer: Sarah Green Commissioning editor: Jon Manel Inheritance is a BBC Long Form Audio production
Fiat has been at the heart of Italy’s industrial, economic and cultural life for more than a hundred years. It’s woven into its fabric. But its success is now under threat - and the country’s most powerful business family is locked in a battle for control. Hit by a series of tragedies and buffeted by political winds, which members of the Agnelli family will succeed in steering the huge conglomerate and guarantee its commercial future? Presenter: Sofia Bettiza Series producer: Simon Tulett Producer: Bob Howard Fact-checkers: Adriana Urbano and Randa Darwish Music: Thomas Ross Fitzsimons Sound engineer: Richard Hannaford Series editor: Matt Willis With special thanks to Jennifer Clark, Michele Masneri, Rachel Sanderson, Andrea Colli, and, also, Octavia Woodward. Senior commissioning producer: Sarah Green Commissioning editor: Jon ManelInheritance is a BBC Long Form Audio production
Samsung faces an uncertain future after its chairman, JY Lee, is jailed. In the final part of the series, Samsung is uncharted territory. The company – and the family – must survive.In this brand-new 10-part series from the BBC World Service, we take you behind closed doors - inside the billion-dollar deals and the family power struggles that shape global empires. When your relatives are also your business partners, every decision is personal. In these dynasties, the boardroom isn’t just about profit - it’s about survival.Host: Elise Hu Producers: Simon Tulett and Sally Abrahams Fact-checkers: Matt Toulson and Su-Min Hwang Music: Thomas Ross Fitzsimons Mixing and sound design: Charlie Brandon-King Series editor: Matt Willis With special thanks to Geoffrey Cain, Sojin Lim, Jaeyeon Lee, Jake Kwon and Mary Wilkinson Senior commissioning producer: Sarah Green Commissioning editor: Jon ManelInheritance is a BBC Long Form Audio production
JY Lee steps into the biggest role of his life, but quickly learns the role comes with added complications. Will a deal struck with the South Korean President, or a faulty new phone model, destroy his chairmanship before it’s really begun?In this brand-new 10-part series from the BBC World Service, we take you behind closed doors - inside the billion-dollar deals and the family power struggles that shape global empires. When your relatives are also your business partners, every decision is personal. In these dynasties, the boardroom isn’t just about profit - it’s about survival.Host: Elise Hu Producers: Simon Tulett and Sally Abrahams Fact-checkers: Matt Toulson and Su-Min Hwang Music: Thomas Ross Fitzsimons Mixing and sound design: Charlie Brandon-King Series editor: Matt Willis With special thanks to Geoffrey Cain, Sojin Lim, Jaeyeon Lee, Jake Kwon and Mary Wilkinson Senior commissioning producer: Sarah Green Commissioning editor: Jon ManelInheritance is a BBC Long Form Audio production
An old feud comes back to haunt the Lee family. A seed sown decades ago blossoms into a fraternal battle, putting the carefully planned succession at risk. But it’s not the only front on which Samsung is fighting for its survival.In this brand-new 10-part series from the BBC World Service, we take you behind closed doors - inside the billion-dollar deals and the family power struggles that shape global empires. When your relatives are also your business partners, every decision is personal. In these dynasties, the boardroom isn’t just about profit - it’s about survival.Host: Elise Hu Producers: Simon Tulett and Sally Abrahams Fact-checkers: Matt Toulson and Su-Min Hwang Music: Thomas Ross Fitzsimons Mixing and sound design: Charlie Brandon-King Series editor: Matt Willis With special thanks to Geoffrey Cain, Sojin Lim, Jaeyeon Lee, Jake Kwon and Mary Wilkinson Senior commissioning producer: Sarah Green Commissioning editor: Jon ManelInheritance is a BBC Long Form Audio production
The Lee family suffers a devastating personal loss, quickly followed by claims of professional wrongdoing. Samsung is left without a Lee family member in charge. Can it be brought back under their control?In this brand-new 10-part series from the BBC World Service, we take you behind closed doors - inside the billion-dollar deals and the family power struggles that shape global empires. When your relatives are also your business partners, every decision is personal. In these dynasties, the boardroom isn’t just about profit - it’s about survival.Host: Elise Hu Producers: Simon Tulett and Sally Abrahams Fact-checkers: Matt Toulson and Su-Min Hwang Music: Thomas Ross Fitzsimons Mixing and sound design: Charlie Brandon-King Series editor: Matt Willis With special thanks to Geoffrey Cain, Sojin Lim, Jaeyeon Lee, Jake Kwon and Mary Wilkinson Senior commissioning producer: Sarah Green Commissioning editor: Jon ManelInheritance is a BBC Long Form Audio production
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When you’re born into a powerful business dynasty, what comes first: the family or the firm? And when it comes to passing on control, who gets the top job? Inheritance explores the family dramas behind some of the world's biggest businesses. NEW from Inheritance: the Agnelli family, the equivalent of Italian royalty. Their influence extends far beyond business into politics, sport, culture and Italy's national identity. Their empire includes Fiat, Ferrari and Juventus Football Club. But when the family is hit by a series of tragedies, it causes a fracture that will echo down the generations. Previously on Inheritance: Samsung. When the Samsung Chairman has a heart attack, his heir is pushed into the spotlight. The complex manoeuvring to secure his succession re-opens old family wounds, prompts one of the biggest scandals in South Korea’s history, and – eventually – helps to bring down a President.
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