The Grey Wave-SME Succession
The Worldwide Succession Crisis
It is no news that around the world, birth rates are plummeting and demographics are
shifting. The “baby boomer” generation (those born between 1946 and 1964) has already
reached or is nearing retirement age, and many are calling it “the grey wave.
” For Small to
Medium Enterprises (SMEs) without heirs, this translates to a succession crisis for developed
economies with low birth rates and aging demographics
February 13, 2026