Business Leaders for Leader-Independent Growth Case Studies

I am working on an article that discusses leader-dependent vs. leader-independent change. It seems that most change is leader-dependent: a new CEO, wanting to put his own stamp on a company, changes things, throwing out even some of the successful things from his predecessors. That is all too common. I am seeking examples where growth and success are leader-independent, where there is institutional continuity, even as the leaders change. Think Pittsburgh Steelers: coaches changed infrequently (Noll to Cowher to Tomlin, average tenure 17 years) but excellence as a team was constant. All three won Super Bowls. There is even a manual called “The Steelers Way” that was used by all three. If you have worked for a company—or even better, led one—which is essentially leader independent, I want to hear your stories. I think that this is rare in business, and I want to understand the circumstances where leader-independence occurs.