More than 200 years of the Blandy company
Past Family leaders of the Group
Few companies attain their bicentenary. Blandy’s is proud to be among that rare company, and as we reflect on two centuries of history, we do so with confidence and optimism for the future.
Recent statistics offer a compelling context for this achievement. In the United States, 98% of companies are family-owned, collectively employing 60% of the workforce. In the United Kingdom, family ownership accounts for 75% of all businesses. Yet the average lifespan of a family enterprise is just 24 years. Only 30% successfully transition to a second generation, and a mere 13% endure to a third.
Against this backdrop, Blandy’s 200-year journey stands as an exception. It would be naïve to suggest that these two centuries have passed without challenge. As with any family enterprise, there have been moments of disagreement and periods of conflict that might, at times, have threatened the continuity of the business. What has defined Blandy’s, however, is that in every generation such challenges have been met with resolve, compromise, and a shared commitment to the future of the Group.
At each stage, members of the family have been willing to assume the mantle of responsibility—not merely as owners, but as custodians. This has never been viewed as a temporary role, but rather as a lifetime stewardship of an enduring enterprise. Through this approach, the Group has been allowed to evolve, adapt, and strengthen, with each generation striving to pass on a business in better condition than the one it inherited.
Today, four members of the family are actively engaged in the Group: Michael of the sixth generation, and Chris, Katrina, and John of the seventh. The family tree below reflects this living legacy.
