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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:

  • Map stakeholders and prioritize communications

  • Uncover blind spots in employee needs and expectations

Debbie Braden
  • Build a clear, aligned messaging framework
  • ​Coach executives on how to communicate transparently

  • Equip managers with tools to lead teams through change

  • Address cultural mismatches early to prevent misalignment

  • Develop a Day 1 readiness pan with actionable roadmap

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2. Integration communication strategy

Sustain momentum and strengthen engagement post-close

  • Build trust with consistent, transparent messaging

  • Align leadership around a unified narrative

  • Guide teams through change with confidence

  • Communicate milestones to maintain momentum

  • Establish feedback loops and surface early risks

  • Track communication effectiveness with data-driven insights​​

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What you'll get:

A comprehensive framework and hands-on support to:

  • Align leaders and managers around the right messages

  • Communicate clearly at every stage of the deal

  • Maintain trust, momentum, and visibility

  • 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:

  • You're planning or undergoing M&A and want to mitigate risk

  • You're concerned about retaining key talent post-acquisition

  • Cultural integration is a top priority in your deal strategy

  • You need to maintain productivity and morale during change

  • Clear, strategic employee communication is critical to success

  • 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

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