Panasonic's founder handed the presidency to his son-in-law in 1961 and stepped back

In January 1961 Konosuke Matsushita announced his resignation as president of Matsushita Electric, the company he founded in 1918. He was 65, his five-year plan had been achieved, and he said the time was right to take a back seat as chairman while the company entered a new phase.

His successor was Masaharu Matsushita, his son-in-law — the founder had no sons. Masaharu had married Konosuke's daughter and adopted the family name, and he took over as the company's second president in 1961.

The handover worked: Masaharu led for 16 years, coinciding with the height of Japan's globalizing expansion, and the company that had survived the devastation of World War II grew into a respected global brand under his leadership.

Masaharu served as president for 16 years during the height of Japan's globalizing expansion, and the firm grew from a postwar survivor into a respected global brand.

The founder resigned from strength, after hitting his five-year plan, not in crisis.

Choosing a proven son-in-law over a namesake heir kept management continuity.

A 16-year presidency carried the company through Japan's growth era.

Choose capability over the family name: the founder's son-in-law took the Matsushita name, and the company's mission outlived its founder instead of shrinking with him.

Masaharu later became chairman, and the company carried the Matsushita name until the Panasonic rebrand decades later; he died in 2012 at 99.