As we close out a year marked by upheaval, experts predict more disruption ahead―including an uptick in mergers and acquisitions (M&A). For our 50th EE Voice podcast, we welcome Louis de Schorlemer of Corporate Diplomat, an agency dedicated to managing M&A, divestitures, or reorganizations. Louis is an international leader in managing M&A communications. He brings a valuable perspective on the importance of centering people in the processes around these transactions.
Louis discusses the sensitive nature of M&A activities, such as when a cash-rich business buys a struggling company, and he doesn’t look away from the discomfort but instead guides clients on how to communicate through it in a mindful way. He lays out strategies for analytical mapping and putting people in the right mindset. And he asks challenging questions about transparency and preparedness―and shares the “Four Ps” he’s found to be instrumental for success.
If you’ve never supported M&A before — and even if you have — Louis offers a masterclass on communications strategy and execution. Listen in, and let us know what you think.
Sharon McIntosh is a senior advisor for Consultants Collective as well as the president of And Then Communications. With more than two decades of communications experience, she has a passion for creating and executing new ideas to drive employee engagement at Fortune 500 companies. Now she’s turning her attention to helping other organizations great and small do the same. Her clients have included United Technologies, Otis Elevator, Toyota, Intercontinental Hotel Group, AbbVie, TEGNA media and AppSpace, among others.
Most recently she served as PepsiCo’s vice president of Global Internal Communications, overseeing the company’s efforts to connect with its more than 274,000 employees worldwide. She and her team launched a number of innovative employee initiatives, including the company’s first social media training (SMART U), a social tool to share internal news externally and PepsiCo’s award-winning employee ambassador program.
Before joining PepsiCo in 2004, Sharon spent seven years at Sears. Among her greatest contributions there, she launched a marketing strategy for all life events, ran user experience for the company’s e-commerce site and introduced the company’s first intranet. Prior to Sears, she worked at Waste Management, publishing more than 14 annual reports for various business units, managing shareholder meetings, drafting senior executive speeches and handling media relations.
