From family feud to leading 450 people through crisis artwork
CEO: Behind the Scenes

From family feud to leading 450 people through crisis

  • S1E29
  • 59:17
  • October 2nd 2025

Family business succession rarely goes according to plan, but few stories are as dramatic as that of AME Systems. In this episode, Nick Carthew, AME Systems Managing Director, opens up about taking over a company torn apart by family conflict, being given just six months to prove himself and then facing unimaginable challenges that tested everything he'd built.

Carthew discusses the falling out that nearly destroyed the business, the difficulties involved in such a rapid transformation and why the board initially had little faith in him. He shares candid insights on leading through loss, the power of company culture during crisis and why his employees took pay cuts and renegotiated mortgages to save the business.

Packed with raw lessons on succession planning and loyalty that survives anything, this conversation reveals what it really takes to carry a legacy forward.

Listen now to hear one of the most honest CEO stories you'll ever encounter.

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Follow Nick Carthew and AME Systems:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-carthew-4314ba32

Website: https://amesystems.com.au

CEO: Behind the Scenes

It's easy to forget that behind the title of CEO lies a human. In CEO Behind the Scenes, a podcast from The CEO Magazine, we want to explore the human behind the company and the figure behind the figurehead role as CEOs share their journeys with us.

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