Passing the Baton: A Father-Son Story of Succession - Allen Fan and Wilson Fan

When you’re entrusting your life’s belongings to a moving company, you want to know that the business will be just as strong tomorrow as it is today. That’s why succession planning and leadership continuity are critical – but rarely discussed – factors in global mobility.

In this episode of The Global Move, Wilson and Allen of Asian Tigers share how succession shapes the future of moving companies, and why long-term leadership stability translates directly into better service for clients. They talk candidly about preparing the next generation of leaders, keeping institutional knowledge alive, and making sure customers benefit from decades of experience – well into the future.

When evaluating movers, don’t just ask about trucks and boxes. Ask:

• How long has the company been in business under consistent leadership?
  
• What’s the plan for continuity if senior leaders step aside?
  
• How does the company preserve its culture and standards across generations?
  

The answers reveal whether you’re choosing a short-term operator—or a partner built to last.

Watch or listen to Wilson & Allen’s full episode to hear how leadership succession safeguards service quality in the moving industry.

Need quick answers on international moving 24/7? Just ask our Digital Concierge, Cindy, via our website’s homepage here: https://asiantigersgroup.com/#ai-search

Host: Welcome back to The Global Move, the podcast where we unpack the business of relocation and everything that moves the world. I’m the host. Today we’re talking about a transition every family business eventually faces: succession. But more than strategy,this is about values, legacy and trust. With me are Wilson Fan, the next generation leader at Asian Tigers China, and his father, Allen Fan, a founder and veteran of the moving business. Wilson, Allen, welcome.

Wilson: Hi, Great to be here.

Allen: Thanks, Ryan. Excited to join the conversation.

Host: And no pressure here. We’re just talking about the future of the family business with microphones.

Wilson: Exactly. No stress.

Host: So let’s dive in. Wilson, what are the typical choices for a family when it comes time to consider succession?

Wilson: There are really three. Sell the business, put it in a trust or pass it on to the next generation. Selling might make financial sense, but emotionally it can feel like cutting a thread. A trust offers structure, but often lacks the heart and deep industry knowledge. Passing it on is the hardest but if done right, it’s a continuation of the story.

Host: Allen?

Allen: And that’s the part people don’t always see. Passing it on isn’t just about controlling it it’s about stewardship. It is not mine anymore. It is ours for the future.

Host: Allen, when did you see… Or when did you start seeing Wilson as ready for this role and the future of the company?

Allen: Well, it was gradual. He started off in operations. Sales, admin, he did the work. But during Covid, when the pressures hit, he stepped it up. That is when I knew he wasn’t just learning the business. He was living it.

Wilson: That time changed a lot. The pace, the pressure—it made me understand the responsibility. But my dad gave me the room. He let me try, and sometimes fail, without pulling the reins back.

Allen: I always say, if you don’t let them make mistakes, you are not preparing a leader. You’re just creating a follower.

Host: Absolutely. And where are you now in handing off the baton?

Wilson: We are running side by side. He still sets the pace, but I’m starting to feel the rhythm as my own.

Allen: And I’m learning to loosen the grip. Harder than it sounds, but necessary because legacy isn’t about preserving the past. It is about preparing the future.

Host: And that future, what does that look like?

Wilson: Hopefully, a company that remains personal even as it grows, where every customer move is still handled with care and intention, not just logistics.

Allen: That is our DNA. You can’t fake care. It has to be lived from top down. And I see that in Wilson.

Host: Ok, last question: Wilson, any advice for other next generation leaders on the come up?

Wilson: Be curious. Be humble. Earn trust the long way.

Host: Allen, any ideas or insights for leaders passing it off to the next generation?

Allen: Start early. Share the responsibility before you share the title. And be proud to step back. It means the team is ready.

Host: Well said. And now, for our listeners, many of whom are exploring moving companies, maybe watching this on a reel or reading a blog or listening to this right now. They might ask themselves why does any of this matter to me? And here’s why. When you choose a moving company, you’re not just choosing a truck and a few boxes. You’re choosing people. People who’ve built a business with care who’ve passed it through generations and stayed committed to doing things right, even when it’s hard. What you hear today isn’t just a family story. It’s a signal: that behind the Asian Tigers brand is a deep foundation of experience, trust and long term thinking. These aren’t just moves. They’re milestones for people in their lives. And they’re treated that way.

Wilson: Exactly. We move people, not just their things.

Allen: And we have done it, for decades because we never forget what’s in those boxes is someone’s life.

Host:That’s the Global Move for today. I’m the host, thank you Wilson, thank you Allen for joining us.

Allen, Wilson:Thank you Ryan.