Case Name :      Lonrho PLC (A): An African Conglomerate

Authors :           Rod E. White, Derek Lehmberg

Source :             Ivey Publishing

Case ID :            905M67

Discipline :        General Management

Case Length :    19 pages

Solution Sample availability : YES

Plagiarism : NO (100% Original work)

In January 1997, Sir John Craven, a highly respected investment banker and chairman of the investment bank Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, was offered the chairmanship of Lonrho, a conglomerate with headquarters in London, England, and operations primarily in Africa. Lonrho’s more significant interests were in hotels, mining, agribusiness and trading. The company was experiencing financial trouble, and was no longer respected by the financial community in London. Tiny Rowland, the tycoon entrepreneur who built the firm, had recently been fired. The firm lacked the leadership and direction it needed to remove itself from its current financial troubles and prosper in the future. Sir John needed to decide whether he should accept the offer of the chairman position, and if he did, what direction Lonrho should take. Supplements From Lonrho to Lonmin (B): Restructuring a Conglomerate, and Lonrho (C): Lonmin, look at the Sir John’s decision and the company’s focus.