Chapter 23 - MY FATHER RESIGNSDad resigned as CEO nine months after Kirk’s birth.
Not because a judge ordered him.
Not because Alistair bought the company.
The board’s independent review concluded the company needed leadership without the family conflict attached to refinancing.
Dad negotiated a transition.
Six months as executive chair.
Then departure.
He remained a significant shareholder.
He hated it.
He also avoided worse damage by leaving with structure.
Our first conversation afterward happened in a restaurant.
He said:
“You got what you wanted.”
“No.”
“You wanted me out.”
“I wanted you to stop treating ownership like obedience.”
“Same result.”
“No.”
He looked tired.
Then:
“Would you have voted against the original financing?”
“Yes.”
“Even if the company failed?”
“I would have voted for a different financing.”
“There wasn’t one then.”
“Because you stopped looking once you found one that preserved your control.”
May you like
He stared at me.
That sentence ended the argument.
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