In this episode of M&A Plus: The Art After the Deal, host Lisa Scott sits down with Keith Crawford, Global Head of Corporate Development at State Street, one of the world’s most respected financial institutions. With over 20 years at State Street and experience as a CFO, Keith shares valuable insights into tackling complex and high-value carve-out acquisitions and integrating them for long-term success.

Key Discussion Points:

• Keith’s Career Journey: From accountant to global M&A leader, Keith recounts the pivotal moments that shaped his career and leadership at State Street.

• Carve-Out Challenges: Exploring the unique complexities of carve-out acquisitions, including managing third-party contracts and ensuring operational alignment post-deal.

• Integration as a Success Factor: Why integration teams are critical, the importance of early involvement, and how unstructured environments demand agile leadership.

• Emerging Trends in Financial Services: Keith’s take on technology disruption, the future role of blockchain, and the evolving FinTech landscape.

• Failed Deals and Lessons Learned: What constitutes a "failed deal," how to manage due diligence under pressure, and the importance of maintaining deal vision through leadership continuity.

• Essential Skills for M&A Leaders: The importance of accounting knowledge, anticipating challenges, thriving in chaos, and balancing high-level strategy with detailed execution.

Whether you’re an M&A professional, corporate leader, or curious about the financial world’s transformation, Keith’s insights offer a masterclass in strategic acquisitions, integration planning, and adapting to emerging industry trends.

Connect with Keith Crawford:

Find Keith on LinkedIn for professional inquiries and insights.

Learn More About In2edge:

In2edge helps businesses tackle the most complex challenges of mergers, acquisitions, and spin-offs. With our hands-on, results-driven approach, we ensure seamless transitions, exceptional outcomes, and real value creation—without the top-dollar expenses. Discover how we turn execution into success at www.in2edge.com.

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If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to M&A+ The Art After the Deal on your favorite platform, leave a review, and share it with your network. Join us again for more behind-the-scenes conversations on strategy, challenges, and successes that define the art after the deal.

To learn more, visit: https://in2edge.com/

In this episode of M&A+ The Art After the Deal, Lisa Scott sits down with Jim Buckley, a veteran in M&A integration with leadership experience at tech giants like Microsoft, PayPal, and VMware. With a career spanning over 150 integrations, Jim shares his insights on managing complex, multi-acquisition environments, working effectively with legal teams, and leveraging technology for seamless integration.

Jim discusses the challenges of integrating companies of varying sizes, his hands-on approach to due diligence, and the art of balancing value creation with employee impact. From sharing his experiences with acquisition fatigue to his thoughts on the role of AI in future integrations, this episode is a masterclass in what it takes to drive success in the post-deal phase.

Key Topics:

• Types of Due Diligence
• Legal Team Partnerships
• Employee Impact and Acquisition Fatigue
• Customer and Partner Communication:
• Value Creation Post-Deal:
• The Role of AI and Technology
• Personal Lessons and Advice

Featured Quotes:

“Integration is all about endurance. It’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon.” - Jim Buckley

“Synergies are not evident on an Excel model; real value is created by what you do post-close.” - Jim Buckley

“In M&A, every deal is a snowflake—no two are the same, but the principles remain consistent.” - Jim Buckley

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Jim Buckley on LinkedIn for further insights and resources: (27) Jim Buckley | LinkedIn

Check out Jim’s other podcast appearances, linked on his LinkedIn profile, for deeper dives into specific integration case studies.

About the Podcast:

M&A+ The Art After the Deal is your go-to resource for uncovering the real stories behind M&A integrations. Join host Lisa Scott as she brings in industry experts to share their experiences, lessons learned, and strategies for successful post-deal integration. Subscribe for insights.

Connect with Us:

Website: www.in2edge.com

LinkedIn: (27) LinkedIn

Subscribe: M&A+ The Art After the Deal - YouTube

Call to Action:

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with colleagues and friends. Don’t forget to subscribe for more in-depth discussions on what really happens after the deal.

Until next time, keep pushing boundaries, creating value, and mastering the art of integration.

To learn more, visit: https://in2edge.com/

In this insightful episode of M&A+ The Art After the Deal, host Lisa Scott is joined by Brant Wilson, president of Customer Value Systems. With over 30 years of marketing and management experience across industries such as technology, healthcare, and financial services, Brant shares his journey to leading a successful marketing research firm. This episode dives into the strategic role of customer insights and market research in driving successful mergers and acquisitions, emphasizing customer retention and the importance of listening to both employees and clients during significant transitions.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Brant’s career journey in marketing and his transition to founding Customer Value Systems
• The role of market research in understanding customer behavior and its impact on business strategies
• Effective customer retention strategies during mergers and acquisitions
• The link between employee morale, leadership communication, and customer retention
• The evolving role of data analytics and AI in market research and customer insights
• Insights on how businesses, large and small, can use data to make informed decisions during acquisitions
• Real-world examples of successful M&A strategies focused on customer retention, such as Oracle’s acquisition of Hyperion

Key Takeaways:

• Listening to customers and maintaining open communication during transitions is critical for retaining business relationships.

• Market research can help predict customer behavior, pricing strategies, and sales potential, ultimately supporting better decision-making during mergers.

• Employee morale and communication during transitions have a direct impact on customer satisfaction and retention.

• The increasing role of AI in marketing and research will continue to transform how companies gather and use customer insights.

Connect with Brant Wilson:

Website: www.customervaluesystems.com

Subscribe:

Don’t forget to subscribe to M&A+ The Art After the Deal on your favorite podcast platform for more insights on the world of post-merger transitions.

To learn more, visit: https://in2edge.com/