12 books two different AIG CEO’s think everyone should read:

Two different leaders of AIG – with two different backgrounds and perspectives.  But one thing in common – the need to lead and grow a large organization – which requires grit, determination, intelligence, and hard work.


These 12 books are fundamental to the leadership approach taken by both CEOs.

Insurance Industry Mergers & Acquisitions

The single-most comprehensive guide on this subject, this must-have text is the work of expert authors from accounting, actuarial, banking and legal backgrounds who provide real-life lessons learned and practical hands-on techniques that immediately can be applied in today’s swiftly moving M&A environment. This innovative book provides an in-depth look at the entire M&A process, including financing, due diligence, tax and accounting issues and post-acquisition integration. It contains a wealth of information on insurance M&A transactions, including commentary and case examples written by company executives and outside advisors who have participated in the M&A process.

Buy Here: Insurance Industry Mergers & Acquisitions

Business Turnaround Methods – 120-day Program To Restore Your Business

This book presents an insightful and proven method of restoring a failing business to financial health and viability. Business owners have watched as the world economy has spiraled out of control, down to levels unseen since the first Great Depression. And many of these business owners are finding themselves closer and closer to the brink of financial doom with no help in sight. In his new book, Dr. Larabie presents his Turnaround-120(tm) methodology, a proven, do-it-yourself program for the small to medium-sized business owner to recover their failed business and bring it back to full prosperity. The Turnaround-120(tm) method takes approximately 120 days to complete. When finished, the business will be fully recovered; it will enjoy a higher level of revenue stability; it will be protected from future failures; and it will have a greater acquisition value as a result.

Buy Here: Business Turnaround Methods – 120-day Program To Restore Your Business

The Turnaround Kid: What I Learned Rescuing America’s Most Troubled Companies

For the past thirty years, Steve Miller has done the messy, unpleasant work of salvaging America’s lost companies with such success that the Wall Street Journal has dubbed him “U.S. Industry’s Mr. Fix It.” From his very first crisis assignment as point man for Lee Iaccoca’s rescue team at Chrysler, Miller built an international reputation while fixing major problems in such varied industries as steel, construction, and health care. Most recently, as chairman and CEO of the bankrupt automotive parts manufacturer Delphi Corporation, he has confronted head-on the major issues threatening the survival of Detroit’s Big Three.

In this frank and unsparing memoir, Miller reveals a rarely seen side of American management. Miller recounts the inside story of the many turnaround jobs that have led to his renown as Mr. Fix It. But he also paints an intimate picture of his relationship with Maggie Miller, his wife of forty years, with whom Miller shares the credit for his success. Described by Miller as “my mentor and tormentor,” Maggie served as his most trusted adviser and kept him focused on what truly matters until her death from brain cancer in 2006.

A deeply moving personal story and timely snapshot of the state of American manufacturing and what it will take to restore it to profitability, The Turnaround Kid is Steve Miller’s fascinating look at his education as an American executive.

Buy Here: The Turnaround Kid: What I Learned Rescuing America’s Most Troubled Companies

Mergers and Acquisitions Strategy for Consolidations: Roll Up, Roll Out and Innovate for Superior Growth and Returns

THE NEW M&A STRATEGY FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS IN TODAY’S VOLATILE MARKETS

Buy Here: Mergers and Acquisitions Strategy for Consolidations: Roll Up, Roll Out and Innovate for Superior Growth and Returns

Investment Banking: Valuation, Leveraged Buyouts, and Mergers and Acquisitions

In the constantly evolving world of finance, a solid technical foundation is an essential tool for success. Due to the fast-paced nature of this world, however, no one has been able to take the time to properly codify the lifeblood of the corporate financier’s work—namely, valuation. Rosenbaum and Pearl have responded to this need by writing the book that they wish had existed when they were trying to break into Wall Street.

Investment Banking: Valuation, Leveraged Buyouts, and Mergers & Acquisitions is a highly accessible and authoritative book that focuses on the primary valuation methodologies currently used on Wall Street—comparable companies, precedent transactions, DCF, and LBO analysis.

Buy Here: Investment Banking: Valuation, Leveraged Buyouts, and Mergers and Acquisitions

Creating Value in Insurance Mergers and Acquisitions

Andreas Schertzinger identifies determinants of successful transactions, such as transaction timing and diversifying transaction strategy, through a multivariate statistical analysis. Two case studies illustrate success factors specifically related to the conduct of transactions in greater detail.


Buy Here: Creating Value in Insurance Mergers and Acquisitions

The Art of Distressed M&A: Buying, Selling, and Financing Troubled and Insolvent Companies (Art of M&A)

Opportunities abound in “bankruptcy beauties”―both in good times and bad. Distressed mergers and acquisitions used to be the domain of a handful of specialists, who generated handsome profits by unlocking value in troubled companies. Now, you can learn the secrets for participating in these deals with knowledge and confidence. The Art of Distressed M&A provides the critical information needed to manage the unique complexities of buying, selling, and financing troubled companies.

The Art of Distressed M&A arms you with creative solutions to seemingly impossible problems and helps you to avoid common pitfalls.

Buy Here: The Art of Distressed M&A: Buying, Selling, and Financing Troubled and Insolvent Companies (Art of M&A)

Leveraged Buyouts: A Practical Guide to Investment Banking and Private Equity

A comprehensive look at the world of leveraged buyoutsThe private equity industry has grown dramatically over the past twenty years. Such investing requires a strong technical know-how in order to turn private investments into successful enterprises. That is why Paul Pignataro has created Leveraged Buyouts + Website: A Practical Guide to Investment Banking and Private Equity.

Engaging and informative, this book skillfully shows how to identify a private company, takes you through the analysis behind bringing such an investment to profitability–and further create high returns for the private equity funds. It includes an informative leveraged buyout overview, touching on everything from LBO modeling, accounting, and value creation theory to leveraged buyout concepts and mechanics.

Buy Here: Leveraged Buyouts: A Practical Guide to Investment Banking and Private Equity

Business Turnaround Blueprint: Take back control of your business and turnaround any area of poor performance

Business Turnaround Blueprint will help you avoid being one of the over 750,000 businesses that will fail this year. This book addresses twelve key areas that might be causing your business struggles and how you can fix them. This book was written primarily with the business owner in mind, but is equally helpful for CEO’s and other high-level executives. This is a must read for anyone who find themselves needing to turnaround a struggling company or improve profitability. Fred Herbert, pulls from over 40 years of business experience to help you tackle any challenge facing your business. Fred has helped a variety of businesses; from small family businesses to consulting for ExxonMobil. He helped a company win the Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award and is a Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt, and shares these business strategies that will help you improve your business. This book is for the business leader who is ready to roll up their sleeves and take immediate action to work on their business. Fred is an expert in business process and productivity improvement and will share specific actions steps you can take immediately to improve and turnaround your organization.

Buy Here: Business Turnaround Blueprint: Take back control of your business and turnaround any area of poor performance

Leading Corporate Turnaround: How Leaders Fix Troubled Companies

Leadership is never more crucial than when corporate survival is at stake. But the days of the tough guys are over. The leaders who are driving today’s sustainable turnarounds understand that the answers to a distressed company’s problems lie almost always within the firm itself – usually at middle manager level and below. The secret is cooperation. Drawing on interviews with top company doctors and advisers, as well as on the authors’ own experience, Leading Corporate Turnarounds explores seven key leadership and management skills required for successful turnaround, and shows why quickly gaining the buy-in and trust of all stakeholders is the key to ultimate success.

Buy Here: Leading Corporate Turnaround: How Leaders Fix Troubled Companies

The Lean Turnaround: How Business Leaders Use Lean Principles to Create Value and Transform Their Company

Lean isn’t just for manufacturing anymore . . .

Few business leaders in the world have applied Lean strategy as successfully as Art Byrne has–and none has the ability to explain how to do it with such succinctness and clarity.

Famous for turning around the wire management company Wiremold, where he rethought every aspect of operations from the customer’s standpoint–and got everyone else in the company to do likewise–Byrne has successfully implemented Lean strategies in more than 30 companies in 14 different countries.

In The Lean Turnaround, this legendary business leader shares everything he has learned during his remarkable career and shows how anyone can achieve similar results. His primary message is this: Lean strategy isn’t just for manufacturing. In fact, Byrne is using this very approach in his present position at a private equity firm.

Buy Here: The Lean Turnaround: How Business Leaders Use Lean Principles to Create Value and Transform Their Company

Corporate Turnaround: How Managers Turn Losers Into Winners!

The ultimate guide on crisis management of corporations that are foundering or failing.

Buy Here: Corporate Turnaround: How Managers Turn Losers Into Winners!

About the author

Arnold Smith

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