Christina Wing on Market Basket’s Leadership Crossroads
In a recent Boston Business Journal article, Wingspan’s Christina Wing weighed in on the unfolding leadership crisis at Market Basket, a company long entwined with the Demoulas family and one of Massachusetts’ largest family-owned businesses.
Market Basket has a storied and often turbulent family history. In 2014, a highly public power struggle erupted between cousins Arthur T. Demoulas and Arthur S. Demoulas. Arthur T., then CEO, was ousted by a board controlled by his cousin’s side of the family—sparking widespread employee protests, customer boycotts, and national media attention. The impasse ended only after Arthur T. bought out Arthur S.’s shares, regaining control of the company and returning as CEO.
Now, more than a decade later, the business faces renewed uncertainty. Arthur T. and two of his children are on paid leave amid a boardroom standoff over governance and succession. Christina Wing shared her perspective:
“Given that the shareholders have such strong emotions, I believe that an outside CEO would have the best chance of success, because it would be about business. It would not be about the emotions of one branch over another.”
She noted that even a highly capable family member could face an uphill battle when internal dynamics—and longstanding rivalries—cloud the process.
Reflecting on the lack of progress since the 2014 crisis, she added: “It should have been worked on in the 11 years since the last fight—and clearly it wasn’t.”
If the family cannot resolve their differences, Wing suggested they may need to consider options as significant as stepping away entirely—possibly even selling the company.
She also emphasized that this situation extends beyond the family itself. With over 30,000 employees, a loyal customer base, and a wide network of suppliers and vendors, the stakes are high for many stakeholders:
“This is a very large complex business, and it’s already being played out in the media. If the quality of service goes down for the customer, it’s going to really hurt this business, and it’s going to hurt all of them.”
The Market Basket saga is a cautionary tale for business-owning families: even the most successful enterprises can be destabilized by unresolved governance issues, emotional loyalties, and a failure to plan for leadership transitions. When decisions are delayed or driven by family conflict, the consequences ripple far beyond the boardroom.
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