The Role of HR in Mergers and Acquisitions
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| Understand how HR can support strategic goals and be instrumental in delivering a high performance organisation | |
| 2-day conference | |
|
London - 2-3 Feb 2011, 2-3 Feb 2011 |
|
| London | £995 + VAT |
The Role of HR in Mergers and Acquisitions in brief:
HR's role in mergers and acquisitions is crucial to increase chances of a successful deal. Employment law challenges, culture clashes, talent retention and employee engagement are all potential pitfalls that can be avoided through the HR team playing a significant role in the end to end M&A process.
Recent research by HR consultancy Hewitt Associates has found that of 40 European companies involved in M&A deals in the last 2 years, 83% failed to meet their key transaction goals and the majority cited ‘human capital challenges’ as the key issue. Hay Group have found that just 9% of deals are ‘completely successful’ in achieving their objectives. With statistics such as these are you and your HR team fully prepared to manage the challenges of a merger or acquisition?
The severe pressure on the global economy has inevitably put the dampeners on mergers and acquisitions as companies find it hard to access the credit to fund their purchases and take risks. Nevertheless, the downturn creates tempting opportunities for growth through acquisition. More businesses are available at bargain prices, and for many now is the time to consolidate ahead in preparation for the upturn. As struggling businesses are swallowed up by their more successful competitors a period of opportunity is created for strong organisations to capture market share.
As a result, M&A activity is still occurring, but there is a greater need to ensure that due diligence is thorough and the HR team are fully prepared for the significant role they will play throughout any merger or acquisition process. Perhaps HR's role in mergers and acquisitions is even more crucial now than in better times, as the emphasis on every pound spent is so great.
The issues faced by Human Resource professionals when supporting a merger or acquisition are extremely demanding, yet it is clear that the key to a successful deal is the management of people. The role of HR in the M&A process requires the creation of a single unified organisation with a clear purpose and set of values from two groups of people with different cultures – no easy feat! By identifying the common challenges and finding solutions which work for your organisation, the value of HR in the merger or acquisition will be realised early enough to enhance the chances of a successful deal.
This event is CPD accredited.
Who should attend:
Directors, HR directors, HR managers, HR policy advisors, remuneration managers, employee relations managers, communication managers, operations directors
Conference highlights:
- Understand the importance of pre-deal due diligence to increase your chances of a successful acquisition in the current climate
- Overcome employment law challenges
- Learn how to manage policy and service integration to avoid a culture clash
- Prove the value of HR?s contribution during the M&A process
- Hear first hand practical guidance on talent retention and integration, employee engagement, global acquisitions, communication and aligning brand values, remuneration and reward structures
- Benefit from interactive discussions with your peers to benchmark your experiences and consolidate your learning
The Programme
The full programme for this event will be available shortly.
Please keep checking this page!
Client testimonials
The case studies were engaging and the theory was valuable - all of the material was good quality and added value to my learning and reflection
Well organised, excellent presentations and high impact delivery of course content
1st class. Far exceeded expectations
Exceeded expectations, extremely thorough and good range of presentations
Well structured and a good range of speakers
Excellent presenters, well organised, informative
Venue details
Venue details will be confirmed shortly.
For further information on the training facilities we use, please call us on +44 (0)20 8371 7010
Event review
JSB’s The Role of HR in Mergers and Acquisitions took place on 26-27 January 2010 at the Radisson Edwardian Grafton Hotel in Tottenham Court Road, London. The two day conference emphasised the importance of HRM in turning strategic goals into reality during a merger or acquisition. It was clearly apparent throughout the presentations that the integration of cultures, working practices and policies into a unified whole is fundamental to the success of such transformation. Presentations were heard from Mishcon de Reya, Towers Watson, KPMG, BT, Jaguar Land Rover, Shell, IBM, Henkel, Standard Chartered Bank and Best Buy.
The first day focused on the legal challenges faced during M&A’s, HR’s contribution to the pre-deal and due diligence process, communication, leadership, talent retention and integration. Throughout the day is was evident that the further up the information chain HR can push themselves, the better. The early involvement of HR can greatly enhance the chances of a successful deal. Increased communication and strong leadership directly impacts talent retention and integration. The people management aspects of mergers and acquisitions are all too often considered as afterthoughts to the M&A process, yet, this potential pitfall can be avoided through the HR team playing a significant role.
The second day went on to deliver practical advice on brand values, the alignment of cultural objectives with business goals, global issues, employee engagement and aligning remuneration and reward packages. Creating a common culture post merger, whether it be a completely new identity or a best fit mix of one’s already in place was a key theme. Mergers and acquisitions can be a fun and exciting challenge for HR but ensuring brand awareness and suppressing uncertainty are certainly areas which need to be targeted if a company wants to ensure a smooth transition period and reap the rewards.
Securing involvement in M&A activity from the outset and then demonstrating the value of HR’s intervention in delivering a successful integration is a fundamental challenge facing HR professionals across all sectors. Overall the two days were thoroughly enjoyed by all and delegates walked away with practical, current insights of making M&A’s work and successfully managing the people integration challenges in the tough economic climate.
Siobhan Mullahy
Conference Producer
JSB Media Partner
The Speakers
Angela Qureshi
Angela Qureshi, Director - heads JSB’s Education sector and Strategic HR faculty. As an HR strategist and an experienced management consultant, trainer and coach, she has extensive experience at blue chip consulting firms; Ernst & Young and Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) and as Head of HR at a large University.
Angela’s current work includes: Delivery of a leadership development programme for senior managers, currently broadening to support a wider cultural change programme (ongoing); Supporting an HR department with a process of change to move towards a more strategically focused, business partnering approach to HR provision, encompassed by the whole function (ongoing). Angela brings useful experience and latest thinking from her work in an extensive range of sectors including professional services and finance.
Angela holds an MSc in Organisational Behaviour from Birkbeck College, University of London and a BSc Honours degree in Management Sciences from Warwick University. Angela is a Level A and Level B British Psychological Society qualified Occupational Tester, and is licensed in the OPQ and MBTI instruments. She is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Key areas of expertise:
- HR and organisation strategy
- Business strategy development facilitation
- Leadership, change management and organisation development
- Management development skills
- Performance management including objective setting, performance appraisal, training and development, motivation and reward
- Operational HR including capability, discipline and grievance, sickness absence, case work, employment law for managers, recruitment and selection, role design and competency development
Top Tips
Testimonials
“Exceeded expectations, extremely thorough and good range of presentations”
— Joe Thurlow,
Senior HR Business Partner, QBE
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+44 (0)20 8371 7011
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