Integrating adjacent companies in education content
Managed the successful merger integration of two leading players in the educational sector.
As well as shaping and running the integration management office, our senior team developed the operation model design for the merged business, and facilitated senior stakeholders from both sides in brokering agreements on the knottiest issues and bottlenecks, resulting in a well managed integration.
Context
Our client had been appointed CEO of the merged entity formed of two adjacent education content providers. Our task was to set up the integration and take it through to day 1 of operating as a single entity.
The merger was far reaching, combining not only head offices but offerings and processes top to bottom. The cultural and political challenges in bringing together two pre-eminent organisations in parallel segments were expected to be as thorny as the operational questions, and to that end we structured our senior team of experienced ‘wise owls’ across both merger mechanics and its facilitation.
Approach
The integration management office was set up and led by one of our team, staffed internally, and supported by our analysts to track and measure benefits.
In parallel with running the integration mechanics we designed the operational model for the merged businesses.
Meanwhile, working in close partnership with the CEO we facilitated subtle negotiations with and between senior stakeholders to clear bottlenecks and address limiting issues early, enabling the process to operate at pace.
Impact
The process, though tense at times, was never derailed. The merger delivered on time and in scope, with subsequent implementation and benefits realisation entirely owned by the internal team.
And we continue to support the client on a range of strategic and operational issues.