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Leadership & Management

Leading Mergers, Acquisitions and Post-Merger Integration

A large share of mergers and acquisitions fail to deliver expected value, often because of poor integration and people issues. This course focuses on the leadership side of M&A: preparing for a deal, planning integration, combining cultures and structures, retaining key talent, communicating with stakeholders and capturing synergies. Participants work through an integration case and develop a 100-day integration plan.

5 days Classroom or live online English
Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants
Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

Download course PDF
Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Integration is where deal value is won or lost. This course gives leaders the frameworks and practical tools to manage the human, operational and cultural challenges of combining organisations.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

  • Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
  • Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
  • Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.
Course methodology

How you will learn.

The course includes M&A case studies, integration planning workshops, culture assessment exercises, communication simulations and a capstone 100-day plan.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the M&A life cycle and the leader's role
  • Plan integration governance and the integration management office
  • Assess and combine organisational cultures
  • Retain key talent and manage organisational design decisions
  • Communicate effectively with employees, customers and other stakeholders
  • Track synergies and integration performance
Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

  • Senior executives involved in M&A
  • Integration managers and PMO leads
  • HR directors
  • Business unit heads
  • Corporate development professionals
Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

  • Integration planning
  • Cultural integration
  • Talent retention
  • Change communication
  • Synergy tracking
  • Integration governance
Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1M&A and Integration Fundamentals

  1. 09:00–09:54Types of deals and integration approaches
  2. 09:54–10:48Why integrations fail
  3. 10:48–11:00Leadership roles during the deal
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Leadership roles during the deal (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Integration strategy
  7. 13:06–14:00Exercise: Reviewing a failed integration

Day 2Planning the Integration

  1. 09:00–09:54Integration management office
  2. 09:54–10:48Day one readiness
  3. 10:48–11:00Workstreams and priorities
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Workstreams and priorities (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Risk management
  7. 13:06–14:00Workshop: Integration governance design

Day 3Culture and People

  1. 09:00–09:54Culture assessment and gaps
  2. 09:54–10:48Organisational design and leadership selection
  3. 10:48–11:00Retention of key talent
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Retention of key talent (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Managing uncertainty and morale
  7. 13:06–14:00Case study: Combining two cultures

Day 4Communication and Stakeholders

  1. 09:00–09:54Employee communication planning
  2. 09:54–10:48Customer and supplier communication
  3. 10:48–11:00Regulators and investors
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Regulators and investors (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Handling rumours and resistance
  7. 13:06–14:00Simulation: Announcement day

Day 5Delivering Value

  1. 09:00–09:54Synergy identification and tracking
  2. 09:54–10:48Operational integration
  3. 10:48–11:00Measuring integration success
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Measuring integration success (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Lessons learned
  7. 13:06–14:00Capstone: 100-day integration plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Istanbul 16 Nov - 20 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 16 Nov - 20 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Barcelona 30 Nov - 4 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
€2,840.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 30 Nov - 4 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 7 Dec - 11 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
€2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 7 Dec - 11 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Singapore 14 Dec - 18 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
€2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 14 Dec - 18 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
London 4 Jan - 8 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 4 Jan - 8 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Dubai 18 Jan - 22 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
€3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 18 Jan - 22 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 1 Feb - 5 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 1 Feb - 5 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 15 Feb - 19 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 15 Feb - 19 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Paris 1 Mar - 5 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 1 Mar - 5 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Rome 8 Mar - 12 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 8 Mar - 12 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Istanbul 15 Mar - 19 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 15 Mar - 19 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 5 Apr - 9 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 5 Apr - 9 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Singapore 19 Apr - 23 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 19 Apr - 23 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
London 3 May - 7 May 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 3 May - 7 May 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Cape Town 10 May - 14 May 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 10 May - 14 May 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Dubai 17 May - 21 May 2027
Confirmed dates
€3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 17 May - 21 May 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 7 Jun - 11 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 7 Jun - 11 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 21 Jun - 25 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 21 Jun - 25 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Paris 5 Jul - 9 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 5 Jul - 9 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Vienna 12 Jul - 16 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,940.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 12 Jul - 16 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Istanbul 19 Jul - 23 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 19 Jul - 23 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 2 Aug - 6 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 2 Aug - 6 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Singapore 16 Aug - 20 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 16 Aug - 20 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Cape Town 30 Aug - 3 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 30 Aug - 3 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
London 6 Sept - 10 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 6 Sept - 10 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Dubai 20 Sept - 24 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
€3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 20 Sept - 24 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 4 Oct - 8 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 4 Oct - 8 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 18 Oct - 22 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 18 Oct - 22 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Paris 1 Nov - 5 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 1 Nov - 5 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Rome 8 Nov - 12 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 8 Nov - 12 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Istanbul 15 Nov - 19 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 15 Nov - 19 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 6 Dec - 10 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 6 Dec - 10 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Singapore 13 Dec - 17 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 13 Dec - 17 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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