Interviews with experts

Check out our exclusive interviews with M&A practitioners where they share their experiences, knowledge, and advice.

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Key Regulatory Considerations for M&A in the Current Market

M&A activity has definitely slowed down. Due to economic uncertainty and high-interest rates, companies are hesitant to expand during these times. In addition, executing deals has also become more difficult due to regulatory changes, especially in the tech industry. In this article, Mark Legaspi, Director, Legal - Corporate at LinkedIn, discusses key regulatory considerations for M&A in the current market.

Interview with:
Mark Legaspi
Director, Legal - Corporate at LinkedIn
Jun 10

The Evolution of M&A Functions

Acquiring companies can be extremely rewarding if done right. To be proficient in M&A, a dedicated function must be established for continuous improvement. As the M&A function evolves, it increases the chances of deal success and value creation. In this article, David Hindley, VP of Corporate Development at Autodesk, shares his journey on how he evolved an M&A function from scratch.

Interview with:
David Hindley
VP of Corporate Development at Autodesk
Jun 2

Thriving in Times of Change With Flexibility in Your Integration Planning

M&A integration is usually made up of checklists that outline the step-by-step agendas and milestones to successfully integrate the acquired company. But during integration, things don’t always go as planned, and teams must be able to pivot and adapt to the ever-changing needs of the project. In this article, Staci van Schagen, Head of M&A Integration & Disentanglement at Philips, shares her ways on how to thrive in times of change with flexibility in integration planning.

Interview with:
Staci van Schagen
Head of M&A Integration & Disentanglement at Philips
May 27
Integration

Best Practices When Selling a Business

Selling a business can be a complex and daunting process. The key to a successful exit lies in implementing best practices that have been proven effective by industry experts. In this article, we'll outline some valuable insights from Jeff Wald, Co-founder of Bento Engine, on how to maximize the potential of a business during the exit process, engage investors effectively, and conduct confirmatory due diligence. By following these guidelines, entrepreneurs and business owners can be better prepared to navigate the challenges of selling a business.

Interview with:
Jeff Wald
Co-founder of Bento Engine
May 20
Strategy & Sourcing

How to Focus on Integration as a Corporate Development Professional

In this article, Brent Campbell, Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy at Alight Solutions, discusses how to focus on integration as a corporate development professional.

Interview with:
Brent Campbell
Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy at Alight Solutions
May 15
Integration

The HR Practitioner’s Guide to Cultural Integration in Mergers and Acquisitions

Cultural fit has become increasingly, as more companies are embracing diversity and inclusion, and acquirers must mitigate cultural differences early on during post-close integration. When two companies fit together, people are more likely to be productive and satisfied with their work. In this article, Klint Kendrick, HR and M&A Leader, gives us a view on the HR practitioner’s guide to cultural integration in M&A.

Interview with:
Klint Kendrick
Chair of the HR M&A Roundtable and Former HR M&A Leader at Oracle & Boeing
May 5
Integration

Valuation Trends / Principles and Working with Earnouts

Deals and even negotiations can’t be done without a proper company valuation. Valuation is a fundamental process that helps determine the true worth of a company, providing a solid foundation for negotiations between parties. But valuations are not always objective, and there are a lot of factors that can impact them. In this article, PJ Patel, Co-CEO & Senior Managing Director at Valuation Research Corporation (VRC), discusses current valuation trends and working with earnouts.

Interview with:
PJ Patel
Co-CEO, Valuation Research Corporation (VRC)
Apr 28

Growing through Multiple Roll-ups

A roll-up is a powerful deal type that involves acquiring multiple smaller companies to combine them into a large entity. When properly carried out, these strategic actions can significantly increase shareholder value and set up companies for record-breaking development. In this article, we have the privilege of hearing from Sam Youssef, Founder and CEO at Valsoft Corporation, a company that has experienced explosive growth through multiple roll-ups.

Interview with:
Sam Youssef
Founder and CEO at Valsoft Corporation
Apr 21
Strategy & Sourcing

The Complexities of Smaller Deals

In today's ever-evolving business landscape, companies need to stay ahead of the curve by constantly innovating. One way they can achieve this is through acquiring smaller companies, which can provide access to game-changing technology, bridge knowledge gaps, and accelerate growth. However, acquiring smaller companies comes with its own set of challenges. In this article, we explore the intricacies of smaller deals with Kevin Griffin, Executive Director of Corporate Development at JLL.

Interview with:
Kevin Griffin
Executive Director, Corporate Development at JLL
Apr 16

People-Focused Integration

Losing key people is one of the most significant value leaks in M&A. Acquirers must focus on the employee experience to retain as many employees as possible. This article will discuss how to execute a people-focused integration featuring Marilyne H. O'Hara, Global Head of M&A Integration at Block.

Interview with:
Marilyne H. O'Hara
Global Head of M&A Integration at Block
Apr 9
Integration

Preserving Startups During Acquisitions

Acquiring startups is a common strategy employed by large companies to drive growth and innovation. However, preserving the unique qualities and strengths of startups within the framework of a larger corporation can prove challenging. In this article, Nadia Gil, Chief of Strategic Planning and Corporate Development at Brady Corporation, offers insight into how to effectively preserve startups during the acquisition process.

Interview with:
Nadia Gil
Chief of Strategic Planning and Corporate Development at Brady
Mar 31

Executing M&A without Corporate Development

Companies can execute successful mergers and acquisitions without corporate development. In this article, we explore insights provided by Michael Farlekas, the CEO at E2open, who has executed 14 deals without a dedicated corporate development team.

Interview with:
Michael Farlekas
CEO at E2open
Mar 24
Strategy & Sourcing

Setting Up Day One for Success

Day one in M&A is a critical juncture for both the acquiring company and the target company. This is the day when the deal is officially closed and the two companies become one entity. Day one involves a lot of planning and coordination between the two companies to ensure a smooth transition. In this article, Chris Evans, former Head of CorpDev Integration at Amazon, discusses how to set up day one for success.

Interview with:
Chris Evans
Experienced M&A Leader | ex-Head of CorpDev Integration at Amazon
Mar 17
Integration

How to Perform Diligence on Sustainability in M&A

As the business world shifts towards a more environmentally and socially conscious approach, the significance of sustainability in M&A has become increasingly prominent. In light of this, companies are now considering the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives of their target companies before making any acquisitions. In this article, we explore the importance of sustainability in M&A and how to perform sustainability diligence, with insights from Sarah Thuo, Chief Operating Officer of IBM Sustainability Services.

Interview with:
Sarah Thuo
Chief Operating Officer of IBM Sustainability Services
Mar 12
Diligence

Setting Up M&A for Hyper-Growth Companies

M&A is a game-changing tool that can propel a company's growth several years ahead of schedule. In this article, Michael Nov, the Head of Corp Dev & Chief of Staff to the CTO at OwnBackup, shares valuable insights on how to set up M&A for hyper-growth companies.

Interview with:
Michael Nov
Head of Corporate Development & Chief of Staff to the CTO at OwnBackup
Mar 5
Strategy & Sourcing

GTM Integration

The go-to-market (GTM) integration strategy has a large impact on revenue generation and overall deal success. Integration can be very disruptive to the customers, but if done right, it can enhance the customer experience and acquisition results. In an exclusive interview, Pat Belotti, VP of Corporate Development Integration at Zendesk, delves into the intricacies of GTM integration and offers valuable insights on how to approach it.

Interview with:
Pat Belotti
M&A Integration Expert, previously at: Cisco, Microsoft, Zendesk
Feb 24
Integration

How Integration Has Changed Over Time

M&A integration in tech has changed quite a bit over the last twenty years. Integration has evolved from integration volunteers, to large teams with detailed tracking, to dedicated teams and Agile approaches. In this article, Pat Belotti, VP of Corporate Development Integration at Zendesk, delves into the evolution of integration.

Interview with:
Pat Belotti
M&A Integration Expert, previously at: Cisco, Microsoft, Zendesk
Feb 17
Integration

Improving IMO For Efficiency

Integration needs to be thought out, but executed quickly. In this interview, Windy Nicholson, Technology Leader for Mergers and Acquisitions at Salesforce, discusses how to improve IMO for efficiency. In addition to having a competent team, there are additional strategies that can be implemented to improve an IMO for efficiency. This article will explore some of these strategies, with insights from Windy Nicholson, the Technology Leader for Mergers and Acquisitions at Salesforce.

Interview with:
Windy Nicholson
VP Technology and Product, Mergers and Acquisitions Integration at Salesforce
Feb 12
Integration

How to Manage Deals From Strategy to Closing in M&A Part 2

Managing a deal from start to finish requires a strategic approach and the ability to navigate the nuances of each phase. In this second part of our series on how to manage deals from strategy to closing, Andy Wijaya, Senior Director of M&A at KLA, delves deeper into the specific steps and considerations involved in the process.

Interview with:
Andy Wijaya
Senior Director, M&A at KLA
Feb 3
Integration

How to Manage Deals From Strategy to Closing in M&A Part 1

Managing M&A can be a daunting task, especially for those in charge of overseeing the entire process. In this article, Andy Wijaya, Senior Director of M&A at KLA, shares his insights on how to effectively manage deals from strategy to closing in M&A.

Interview with:
Andy Wijaya
Senior Director, M&A at KLA
Feb 3
Integration

Alternative Strategies to Accelerate Growth

Acquisitions are not the only way companies can achieve growth. Partnerships are a great way for organizations to grow their organic growth capabilities. This article will discuss alternative strategies to accelerate growth featuring Yvanna Perez-Morel, Sr. Director of Corporate Development at Ulta Beauty | Managing Director at Prisma Ventures.

Interview with:
Yvanna Perez-Morel
Yvanna Perez-Morel, Sr. Director of Corporate Development at Ulta Beauty | Managing Director at Prisma Ventures
Jan 27
Strategy & Sourcing

First Convo to LOI Session 3

Establishing strong connections with a target company is essential in M&A. Securing deals can be challenging, but a strategic approach can result in mutually beneficial outcomes. Join us for the third session of our 'Conversations to LOI' series, featuring Michael Frankel, Founder and Managing Partner of Trajectory Capital, as he shares his approach to deal-making.

Interview with:
Michael Frankel
Founder and Managing Partner of Trajectory Capital
Jan 27

Setting M&A Governance Up for Efficiency

In order for an M&A process to be successful, there must be effective governance in place. Governance is used to manage risks, and ensure that key stakeholders are well-informed and able to provide appropriate oversight throughout a transaction. In this article, Guy Fisher, Head of Corporate Development at Suncorp Group, shares his expertise in setting up M&A governance for efficiency.

Interview with:
Guy Fisher
Head Of Corporate Development at Suncorp Group
Jan 21

Executing Acquihires

Acquiring a company is complex and challenging, and in some instances, unnecessary. If buyers only need the people inside of a target company, they can do an acquihire instead of a traditional acquisition. To explore this strategy deeper, this article will discuss executing acquihires, featuring Thomas Gorman, Strategy & Corporate Development at Pantheon, and Mark Khavkin, CFO at Pantheon.

Interview with:
Thomas Gorman
Strategy & Corporate Development at Pantheon Platform
Mark Khavkin
CFO at Pantheon Platform
Jan 21
Strategy & Sourcing

First Convo to LOI in M&A Session 2

Before buyers and sellers agree to an LOI, there are many informal conversations that happen in the background. Buyers must carefully approach any informal conversations to avoid turning a buyer off while still securing the deal. In this article, Ken Bond, Head of Corporate Development at Cetera Financial Group, discusses the key things to consider from first conversations to LOI in M&A.

Interview with:
Ken Bond
Head of Corporate Development at Cetera Financial Group
Jan 13

Reps and Warranties Insurance from a Business Perspective

Today, there are more than 20 reps and warranty insurance companies. And unlike before, they are now willing to cover the entire suite of reps and warranties to replace the indemnification provisions in a traditional purchase agreement. So are they worth it? Should buyers consider reps and warranty insurance on all their deals? In this article, Gitanjali Pundir, Vice President, Global Corporate Development and M&A at Visa, discusses reps and warranties insurance from a business perspective.

Interview with:
Gitanjali Pundir
Vice President at Visa
Jan 8

How to Approach Reps and Warranties Insurance

In recent years, there has been a surge in using reps & warranty insurance in M&A, especially in private deals. Buyers and sellers can save significant time and money using reps and warranties insurance. This article will discuss how to approach reps and warranties insurance, featuring Josh Holleman, Partner at Cooley LLP.

Interview with:
Josh Holleman
Partner at Cooley LLP
Jan 6

First Convo to LOI in M&A Session 1

Deal origination requires a well-planned strategy, and starts with informal conversations with a potential target. In this article, Jeremy Segal, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Progress, discusses what happens behind the scenes between the first conversation to LOI in M&A.

Interview with:
Jeremy Segal
Senior Vice President Corporate Development at Progress
Jan 6
Diligence

Starting Up Your Corporate Development Function

Executing acquisitions without a dedicated function is highly inefficient and results in failed deals. Companies should not purely rely on inbound opportunities, and need strategic teams dedicated to sourcing deals. This blog will discuss how to start up a corporate development function featuring Veena Ramaswamy, Head of Corporate Development at Lemonade.

Interview with:
Veena Ramaswamy
Veena Ramaswamy, Head of Corporate Development at Lemonade
Dec 30
Strategy & Sourcing

Executing Various M&A Strategies and How to Get Buy in From Leadership

M&A is an excellent tool for growing a company. Still, acquirers should consider a variety of strategies before committing to a transaction. Choosing the right growth approach also dictates any integration plans. This article will talk about executing various M&A strategies and how to get buy-in from leadership, featuring Rohit Dave, Head of Corporate Development at Block.

Interview with:
Rohit Dave
Head of Corporate Development at Block
Dec 30
Strategy & Sourcing

How to Perform Better M&A Integration

The integration stage of the deal lifecycle is when teams can achieve a transaction's desired synergies. Even though integration starts post-close, integration planning should begin much earlier in the deal process. In this article, Cara Bibbiani, Senior Director, Corporate Development, M&A Integration at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, discusses how to efficiently execute M&A Integration.

Interview with:
Cara Bibbiani
Senior Director, Corporate Development, M&A Integration at Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Dec 23
Integration

Creating Your M&A Team Structure

Standing up a corporate development function from scratch is a challenging, yet exciting task. And one of the pillars of a successful M&A function is a solid team who can effectively run deals. In this article, Kevin Barnes, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at Premier, will discuss how to create your M&A team structure.

Interview with:
Kevin Barnes
Senior Vice President Corporate Development at Premier Inc.
Dec 23
Strategy & Sourcing

M&A Career Path: Transitioning Roles in M&A

Ever wonder how to transition roles in M&A? In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Kerry Perez, Vice President, Enterprise Strategy at AMN Healthcare, will discuss her fascinating journey to M&A, during which she experienced a variety of roles. In this article, she will discuss how to transition roles in M&A.

Interview with:
Kerry Perez
Vice President, Enterprise Strategy at AMN Healthcare
Dec 16
All

Tying up M&A Strategy and Integration

A strong deal strategy doesn't guarantee success. Integration is where value is created and must be prioritized immediately. Darrell Heaps, CEO at Q4 Inc., discusses how to tie M&A strategy and integration together.

Interview with:
Darrell Heaps
CEO at Q4 Inc.
Dec 14
Integration

Accelerating M&A Integration

For Cisco, integrating as soon as possible after acquiring a company is a must. This is not an easy task, as acquirers must execute quickly and efficiently, navigate changes, and preserve the target company's value. In this article, Caroline Jones, Senior Director - Acquisition Success at Cisco, shares their processes on how to accelerate M&A integration.

Interview with:
Caroline Jones
Senior Director - Acquisition Success at Cisco
Dec 9
Integration

How to Get Strategic Alignment During M&A Integration

Integrating an acquired company is one of the most daunting tasks in M&A. Integration never goes as planned, but there are things that teams can do to make it much easier for everyone involved. In this article, Don Yakulis, Global Head of M&A Integration at Light and Wonder, discusses the importance of achieving strategic alignment from both teams during M&A integration.

Interview with:
Don Yakulis
Global Head of M&A Integration at Light and Wonder
Dec 9
Integration

GTM Integration Planning Part 2

Achieving revenue synergies should always be a transaction’s top priority. By leveraging the combined customer base of both companies, and combining the marketing and sales efforts, companies can become a much more powerful force in the marketplace. In this two-part M&A Science Podcast episode, James Harris, Principal, Corporate Development Integration at Google, discusses GTM integration planning.

Interview with:
James Harris
Principal, Corporate Development Integration at Google
Dec 2
Integration

GTM Integration Planning Part 1

When two businesses merge, the new company's success often depends on how well the go-to-market plan is executed. The combined company inherits the two businesses’ customers, products, and respective sales and marketing channels. If not planned properly, the combined efforts can lead to customer confusion and lost sales. This article goes over GTM integration planning, featuring James Harris, Principal, Corporate Development Integration at Google.

Interview with:
James Harris
Principal, Corporate Development Integration at Google
Dec 2
Integration

The Corporate Venture Capital Strategy

There are different ways to create and grow a business: build up from scratch, acquire another company, or gain strategic alignment with other companies through partnerships. Through a partnership, a business can leverage someone else's technology for faster growth. In this article, Larry Forman, Senior Manager and Head of the Ecosystem for Deloitte's New Venture Accelerator, discusses corporate venture capital strategy.

Interview with:
Larry Forman
Senior Manager and Head of the Ecosystem for Deloitte’s New Venture Accelerator
Nov 25
Strategy & Sourcing

How to Run an Accelerated M&A Process

Auction processes in M&A are very challenging for strategic buyers and corporate development teams need more than a compelling offer to compete in an auction. This article will discuss how to run an accelerated M&A process featuring Kirti Gavri, Head of Corporate Development for Wizeline.

Interview with:
Kirti Gavri
Kirti Gavri, Head of Corporate Development for Wizeline
Nov 25
Integration

Strategizing and Executing your Exit for the Greater Good of your Team

Selling a business can be challenging for a founder. Regardless of the reasons behind an exit, there are ways to ensure a company's continuity and success. In this article, Tim Wentworth, Retired CEO of Cigna, formerly known as Express Scripts, discusses how to strategize and execute an exit for a team's greater good.

Interview with:
Tim Wentworth
Retire CEO, Evernorth
Nov 18
Strategy & Sourcing

Successful End-to-End M&A

Creating value through M&A takes work. There are so many steps to take during targeting, diligence, and integration in order to achieve a transaction’s intended synergies. So. how can teams increase a deal’s chances of success? In this article, Hannah Elsakr, Vice President, Corporate Development, M&A Integration at Adobe, discusses executing successful end-to-end M&A.

Interview with:
Hannah Elsakr
Vice President, Corporate Development, M&A Integration at Adobe
Nov 18
Strategy & Sourcing

Bottoms Up Deal Origination Model

The M&A can be highly inefficient, and inefficiency can lead to failed deals. However, some practitioners have figured out how to increase deal success using new work methods. For example, some practitioners have turned to Linkedin as a different way to approach deal origination. This article will explore Linkedin’s bottoms-up deal origination model, featuring their Vice President and Head of Corporate Development, Benjamin Orthlieb.

Interview with:
Benjamin Orthlieb
Vice President and Head of Corporate Development at LinkedIn
Nov 16
Strategy & Sourcing

How to Execute an Effective M&A Integration Handoff

Integration is where value is created, therefore, leaving the acquired business in good hands is imperative. This article discusses how to execute an effective M&A integration handoff featuring Keith Crawford, Global Head of Corporate Development / M&A - State Street.

Interview with:
Keith Crawford
Global Head of Corporate Development / M&A at State Street
Nov 13
Integration

How to Create an Agile M&A Strategy

Strategy execution is one of the most fundamental reasons behind M&A. Acquiring a business and rationalizing the deal afterwards is a quick way to waste time and money. This article will discuss creating an Agile M&A strategy featuring Daniel Gittsovich, Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Development at L3Harris Technologies.

Interview with:
Daniel Gittsovich
Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Development at L3Harris Technologies
Nov 4
Strategy & Sourcing

Sell-Side Behind-the-Scenes: Preparing a Company For an Acquisition Part 2

This interview is part two of our M&A Science podcast interview with Frederic Lebourg, CEO & Managing Director at Redlands Farm Holding, Inc. During this interview, he discusses how to prepare a company for an acquisition.

Interview with:
Frederic Lebourg
CEO & Managing Director at Redlands Farm Holding, Corp.- a Subsidiary of the Bollore Group
Nov 4
Diligence

Sell-Side Behind the Scenes: Preparing a Company For Acquisition Part 1

There are many reasons why an owner sells their business. Before talking to an actual buyer, potential sellers need to prepare their business in order to maximize value. This is the first of a 2-part article of “Sell-Side Behind-the-Scenes'' where Frederic Lebourg, CEO & Managing Director at Redlands Farm Holding, Inc., discusses how to prepare a company for acquisition.

Interview with:
Frederic Lebourg
CEO & Managing Director at Redlands Farm Holding, Corp.- a Subsidiary of the Bollore Group
Oct 30
Diligence

Reverse Auction in M&A

The M&A auction process creates competition among potential buyers and drives prices up. In most cases, proactive acquirers tend to avoid these types of transactions, but buyers can also initiate and create their own auction process. In this article, Atul Tiwary, Vice President of Corporate Development at Barracuda, talks about the reverse auction process in M&A.

Interview with:
Atul Tiwary
Vice President of Corporate Development at Barracuda (NYSE: CUDA)
Oct 30
Strategy & Sourcing

How to Properly Lay Off People During an Acquisition

When acquiring another company, there is always the potential that layoffs will need to take place to streamline the new organization. Of course, letting people go is never easy, but there are ways to do it properly to minimize damage to the individuals and the company's reputation. In this article, Evelyn De la Cruz, Head of North America Administrative Operations at Spencer Stuart, discusses how to properly lay off people during an acquisition.

Interview with:
Evelyn De la Cruz
Head of North America Administrative Operations at Spencer Stuart
Oct 26

How to Approach Deal Targets

Proactive M&A is not easy. Proactive M&A requires keeping tabs on multiple companies, reaching out to them directly, and convincing owners to sell their businesses to strangers.Yet, the ability to tackle all of these actions are what make a great corporate development team. In this article, Andrew Whitcomb, Sr Director, Strategy, Corporate Development, M&A at Builders FirstSource, shares how to approach deal targets.

Interview with:
Andrew Whitcomb
Sr Director, Strategy, Corporate Development, M&A at Builders FirstSource
Oct 14
Diligence