5 key roles senior HR leaders must play in M&As activity

Human Resources professionals face a daunting task in managing people-related risks and opportunities in M&As, according to Mercer.

Mercer shared the five key roles senior human resources leaders must play before, during and after mergers and acqusitions activity.

1. Serve as a trusted adviser to executives and the deal team
2. Be the HR/people subject-matter expert
3. Provide timely and actionable input before, during and after the deal
4. Help shape the post-close organisation
5. Manage the intense flow of information and related employee anxiety

“We believe 2011 is going to be a very strong year for deal activity. The availability of cash and credit to fund deals and the continuing trend toward de-conglomeration will release pent-up M&A demand across the globe,” said Len Gray, Mercer’s Asia Pacific Business Leader for M&A Consulting.