The webinar “Driving M&A Success: Insights for Corporate Development Executives,” hosted by E78, featured experts Scott Whitaker and Stefan Hofmeyer, who shared their extensive experience in M&A integration and transaction advisory. This session aims to enhance attendees’ understanding of post-merger integration (PMI) considerations and best practices, drawing from a global M&A success survey conducted with 115 senior executives, primarily from mid-market and Fortune 500 companies.
Key survey findings highlighted a surprising lack of structured M&A playbooks among 60% of respondents, despite the complexity and duration of integration efforts, with 27% exceeding 12 months. This discussion emphasizes the growing importance of IT and operations diligence alongside traditional areas like finance and HR, as well as the critical need for speed in integration to capture synergies and return teams to their core responsibilities. The webinar also underscores that tracking deal metrics and synergies significantly boosts success rates, with 92% of diligent practitioners achieving favorable outcomes.
Scott and Stefan shared practical strategies for aligning corporate development processes with integration, particularly for transformative M&A versus simpler bolt-on deals. They stress the importance of early planning—ideally 30–60 days before close—to establish a clear deal thesis, assess organizational readiness, and address potential weak spots in systems, processes, and people. AI tools, such as Cassidy, are highlighted for expediting deal driver articulation, while exploring a customized Smart Sheet platform recommended for efficient integration management. Best practices include mobilizing an Integration Management Office (IMO) 30 days pre-close, maintaining a weekly execution rhythm post-close, and prioritizing value creation initiatives within 90–120 days.
Also in this session they cover governance, stakeholder communication—especially for day one—and the often-overlooked areas of culture and change management, advocating for pragmatic assessments to align teams without overcomplicating cultural integration.
