Chapter 17 - GRANT LOST THE BOARD
The Bennett Capital governance review took eleven months.
The result was brutal.
Grant was removed as chair.
Ryan did not return to executive management.
Three board committees were restructured.
Outside directors gained real authority.
The company sold two acquisitions.
Reduced debt.
Avoided collapse.
No mass layoffs.
No apocalyptic ruin.
The catastrophe Grant used to justify coercion turned out to be manageable once other people were allowed to make decisions.
That enraged Claire more than anything.
Hundreds of jobs had not depended on her signing away fourteen million dollars.
They depended on adults accepting smaller ambitions.
Grant could not.
The board could.
Bennett Capital survived.
Smaller.
Healthier.
Grant called it mutilation.
Employees called it employment.
Diane finalized the divorce.
Brooke left the board voluntarily and trained in nonprofit governance.
Ryan sold part of his shares to satisfy personal obligations.
Claire kept every dollar of her separate portfolio.
Untouched.
May you like
Not because money was victory.
Because consent was.
