On April 29, 1977, the month after John Jefferson Smurfit died, his four talented sons met to discuss what to do with the paper and packaging business their remarkable father had founded. The brothers were devastated by the loss of their patriarch, but they knew he would want them to remain committed to the business.   The oldest brother, Michael, was made chairman as well as chief executive, while his younger brothers took senior roles alongside him. Jeff became deputy chairman, Alan took charge of UK sales, and Dermot ran the business’s British paper and board division.   Later that year, the…

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