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ALIGN 360: Internal Communication Strategy for M&A Success
Retention isn't just HR's job. It's a communication strategy
Nearly 1 in 3 employees consider leaving their job during a merger or acquisition. (Mercer's Global Talent Trends 2023)
When communication is unclear or culture misalignment goes unaddressed, trust erodes—and so does your deal’s value.
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ALIGN 360 helps you keep people aligned, engaged, and moving forward through every stage of integration.
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In M&A, communication isn't a follow-up—it’s a differentiator.
Success depends on retaining talent, maintaining productivity, and preserving institutional knowledge—all while creating a unified culture. ALIGN 360 helps you do exactly that with a clear, people-centered communication strategy.
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What to expect:
1. Pre-close communication strategy
Prepare both organizations for a seamless transition:
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Map stakeholders and prioritize communications
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Uncover blind spots in employee needs and expectations
- Build a clear, aligned messaging framework
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​Coach executives on how to communicate transparently
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Equip managers with tools to lead teams through change
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Address cultural mismatches early to prevent misalignment
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Develop a Day 1 readiness pan with actionable roadmap
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2. Integration communication strategy
Sustain momentum and strengthen engagement post-close
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Build trust with consistent, transparent messaging
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Align leadership around a unified narrative
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Guide teams through change with confidence
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Communicate milestones to maintain momentum
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Establish feedback loops and surface early risks
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Track communication effectiveness with data-driven insights​​
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What you'll get:
A comprehensive framework and hands-on support to:
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Align leaders and managers around the right messages
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Communicate clearly at every stage of the deal
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Maintain trust, momentum, and visibility
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Track what's working and adjust as needed​
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Is ALIGN 360 right for you?
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This strategy is essential if:
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You're planning or undergoing M&A and want to mitigate risk
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You're concerned about retaining key talent post-acquisition
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Cultural integration is a top priority in your deal strategy
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You need to maintain productivity and morale during change
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Clear, strategic employee communication is critical to success
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You want to accelerate integration timelines without losing engagement
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Star Thrower Communication delivers the strategic framework and actionable tools to maintain clarity, confidence, and momentum through your M&A journey.​
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Why Star Thrower?
We bring 20+ years of deep expertise in internal communication and change management—on both sides of the M&A table. I know what makes integrations succeed, and what causes them to quietly stall.
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I led internal communication for a $2.75 billion private equity-backed merger that doubled the company's footprint to more than 1,000 locations and created a $3.5 billion market leader.
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I saw firsthand how fragile trust can be in the midst of rapid change—and what it takes to preserve it. That experience shaped ALIGN 360.
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ALIGN 360 is a proven, people-first framework that helps you communicate clearly at every stage of the deal—so your teams stay aligned, your leaders stay credible, and your investment delivers.
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Every engagement is customized to your scope, structure, and speed—because no two integrations are the same, and neither are the risks.
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If you're looking for a strategic communication partner who understands both the people dynamics and business implications of M&A, let's talk.
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Cost and timing:
Tailored to your organization's scope and size. Let's talk to discuss a custom strategy.
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Corporate
Debbie kept all of the cross-functional departments aligned and informed—bridging communication from the C-Suite to the field and from the field to the C-Suite. With over 20k teammates at the time, this was no small undertaking.
-Diana Nicholson,
Learning & Business Performance Leader