In Knight & Deigh, Hannice Knight suffered a back injury that left him without the use of his legs. Sophie Deigh, physiotherapist and recent widow, devoted herself to supporting him.

As Hannice’s body recovered, he became ever closer to Sophie, and soon they found themselves in a relationship they had neither anticipated nor intended and for which neither was fully prepared.

A bump in the Knight followed Hannice as he juggled business, hedonism, marriage and ultimately parenthood.

Knight after Knight is the third and final part of the Hannice Knight story. Starting after the marriage of Hannice and Sophie’s only son, David to Jess, the only child of Jason and Noelani Reeves of Hawaii, it traces the Knight family’s progression through the generations.

Knight after Knight. Chapter five, part four.

Things ticked over swimmingly for the next few years. The business continued its slow but steady growth. David gradually took on more of my duties, especially those involving overseas visits. Jess’s pregnancy still hadn’t happened and so she was available to accompany her husband on his trips. For her part, she took an increasing interest in the quasi-philanthropic activities of the investment arm of the business. I have to admit, Max encouraged her in that, mostly because she was becoming less enamoured with the inside of aircraft as the years went by. Knight Global Investments was her baby and that she allowed, even encouraged Jess to take a greater interest in it and to become directly involved in its future spoke much of the respect and esteem in which she held my daughter-in-law.

I sat down with her in my office one afternoon for tea and a chat.

“Max, we’re both just a few months short of seventy. Do you think it’s time we made some decisions?”

“Are you sure we haven’t already made them?”

“Perhaps. I’m about ready to step aside and let my boy take over this seat. Well, he and Jess, of course.”

“I know how you feel, Boss, but what will you do?”

“I’ll stay on as Chairman for as long as the business needs me to, but Sophie and I want to spend more time on Cyprus. You know, relaxing, sightseeing—”

“Doing old people’s stuff, you mean?”

“Old? Me? Not going to happen.”

“You may be too late, Hannice. We are old. Both of us.”

“You’re right, of course. How about you?”

“I think Lindy is ready to take on the regional director’s job. No point in delaying it any more.”

“Henk feels the same about Tanja.”

“And he’s older than us. I know he’s ready to retire.”

“Okay, Max. Let’s set about putting a resolution in front of the Board. Hmmph. That’ll only leave Emily from the group we’ve been working with all these years.”

“She’s turned sixty-five now, too.”

“Let’s see what she has to say at the meeting. Her deputy; name escapes me at the moment; is probably ready for a leg-up.”

We set the meeting up. Around the table were Emily Russell (HR Director), Owen Nicholls (Company Secretary), Max, Henk, David, Jess and myself. Oh, and Sophie in her position of non-voting director. With the exception of David and Jess, and possibly Sophie, it was like a residents’ meeting in an old folks’ home. Danny, Geoff, Scott and Carolina joined over the teleconference network.

After the Company Secretary’s reading and adoption of the minutes of the last Board meeting, we addressed the only substantive item on the agenda: a statement from the Chairman and CEO.

“I imagine you’ve all known for some time that this day would come,” I said, “I am approaching my seventieth birthday and, quite frankly, I want to slow down. You all know that my father, who built this business from nothing, continued working until he was no longer physically capable. Even then, he was still running things from his hospital bed right up until the day he knew the end was imminent. I don’t intend to do that. Is that relief I see around the table?” I paused to allow the group to settle again. “David and Jess have been standing in for me more and more over the past months, and I now feel ready to hand the reins to them. My purpose this morning is to offer you my resignation as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, and to request that you approve the appointment of David and Jess as joint holders of the office. For the time being at least, I intend to remain in post as Chairman, but I shall stand back from the day-to-day running of Knight Global Trading. That’s it. Thank you all for your loyal support over the years and for enabling the group to go from strength to strength.” I took my seat again, as Sophie leaned over with a smile, squeezed my hand and planted a kiss on my cheek.

Max stood. “Thank you, Hannice. For my part, being of the same age, I wish to give three months’ notice of my intention to leave my post as Chief Financial Officer. That will give enough time for you to select a replacement. I shall provide a short-list of names that I consider suitable, headed by my number two, Caspar Jakobsson, but I won’t attempt to influence the Board’s decision. As for my post of Regional Director for Africa, I have already handed the job to LJ Aldredge in Tanzania. I would ask the Board to consider appointing him regional director in my stead. That will be effective immediately, or as soon as you can do it.” She took her seat to applause from those present in person and over the teleconference links.

Hank stood next. “Not wishing to steal anyone’s thunder, but you are all aware that I have about six years on Hannice and Max. I have been thinking about this for nearly three years now, but Hannice and Max having spoken has prompted me to follow suit. My tenure as Chief Operating Officer has been a source of great joy and great challenge. I have loved every day of it, but seventy-five is plenty old enough to be retiring. Tanja Voorwinde, who is in post as Regional Manager, Europe but doing the regional director’s job, is overdue for confirmation in the post. For myself, can I ask you to accept three months’ notice of my intention to retire, please? Thank you all.”

David blanched visibly. He knew I was stepping down, but the thought of taking over and immediately losing two of the most senior, most experienced and most respected directors wasn’t what he was expecting.

As Chairman, I took the lead again. “Can I have a show of hands for the appointment of David and Jess as joint CEO?”

“Ten for, four abstentions,” Owen said, “The motion passes. So minuted.”

“Thank you, Mr Company Secretary. Appointment of LJ Aldredge as Regional Director, Africa?”

“Unanimous. So minuted.”

“Appointment of Tanja Voorwinde as Regional Director, Europe?”

“Unanimous. So minuted.” I took my seat and Owen stood. “Mr Chairman, I would ask you to bring this meeting to a close. Mr David Knight, once the meeting is closed, will you reconvene, please?”

“Is that strictly necessary, Owen?” I asked.

“With respect, Mr Knight, the company constitution states that all Board meetings are called by the Company Secretary following a request by the Chief Executive. You will effectively relinquish your post by closing the meeting. Mr David Knight or Mrs Jessica Knight, as CEO, will ask me to call a meeting, which I shall do immediately.”

“What a palaver,” I said, “Never mind. This meeting is adjourned.”

“Mr Nicholls,” David said, “Would you be so kind as to convene a meeting of the Board, please?”

“With pleasure, Sir. This meeting is called to order. This meeting is a continuation of the previous meeting adjourned by our Chairman. Its minutes will be combined with those of this meeting. All in favour? Unanimous. So minuted.”

“That’s it?” David asked.

“It is, Mr David. The resolutions passed in your father’s meeting have now taken effect.”
There being no other business, this second meeting was brought to a close.