Family-run small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are 65% of the Italian entrepreneurial fabric. In larger companies, leadership is in the hands of the entrepreneurial family (65.7%) while in smaller companies it is even in 78.8% of cases. Research confirms that turnover at the top in Italian family businesses tends to occur in times of need, highlighting a widespread difficulty in preparing the replacement in time. "Most Italian companies, mainly family-run, - reads the report - pass from generation to generation only after the death of the entrepreneur, with frequent difficulties on the part of the heirs, who suddenly have to manage companies they do not know, often without the necessary skills". The research also shows that the number of leaders over 70 is still very high and this means that many companies will have to manage the delicate issue of generational transition in recent years.
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