Simmering resentment over chairman Pehr Gyllenhammer's directorial management style at Volvo added spice to the management revolt. The divorce is reputed do have cost Volvo several hundred million dollars and forced the resignation of Gyllenhammer after more than two decades in the driving seat. Egos play such a large role when two giant corporations come together that it is hard to make them work unless one personality is prepared to take a back seat or step down. The $26 bn marriage between Swiss giants Ciba and Sandoz to form Novartie in 1996 is often held up as a textbook example of how mega-mergers can work. It is successful, but much of that success is dependent on the fact that key personnel were ready for retirement, or were prepared to relinquish old roles in favour of new opportunities in other scenarios. Compromise is essential if mergers between two powerful corporations are to work to the advantage of both parties and their shareholders. Otherwise friendly discussions break down and can easily turn into all-out war. In the corporate jungle, the question is now whether the imperatives of shareholders can control the egos of managers, to force through deals that deliver them the financial return they expect. This is where independent directors ought to play a part, although they rarely do.