In 2002, Fouad Makhzoumi retired as chief executive of Future Pipe Industries at age 50 and handed the reins of day-to-day business to his son Rami. In April 2011, a brain aneurysm struck and Rami passed away in the middle of life. At age 33, he was father of two young children and the main decision maker in the business. Makhzoumi says as painful as it was to lose his son, he had to quickly reassume the role of chief executive. “Then to step in and reposition, you must remember that Rami for 10 years was the only known figurehead and if I did not step in very fast, the whole thing would start shaking,” he said. “But luckily, I like to read and follow up, and Rami was copying me in on all his correspondence. He would consult with me for only one hour every day on the key
