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Case Study

Hollinger and the downfall of Conrad Black

By Stewart Hamilton and Alicia Micklethwait

26 pages

December 2011

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Reference: IMD-3-2145

On Friday, 13 July 2007, publishing magnate, Lord Black of Crossharbour stood up in a Chicago courthouse, together with three colleagues from Hollinger International Inc. (HII), to hear the jurors’ verdict in their five-month trial. Convinced of his innocence, Lord Black looked on stony-faced as the verdict was announced: guilty of fraud and of obstructing justice. This case tells the story of Conrad Black’s rise to power, wealth, and fame as a media mogul and ultimately his downfall. It gives a detailed account of how Black built the third largest global media empire and the events that lead to his conviction on charges of fraud.

Learning Objective

Analyze and discuss a controversial case of corporate fraud and corruption.

Keywords

Corporate Governance, Compensation, Accounting, Fraud, Greed, Newspaper, Publishing, Media, General Management, Strategy

Settings

1969-2007

Type

Published Sources

Available Languages

English

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Industry Materials, Construction Materials;Materials, Cement

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