If you get to the end of your career and you've never worked for a firm that has either acquired or been acquired you will very much be the exception.

This week, on the Little Questions Podcast we're talking mergers and acquisitions, or M&A as its often shortened to.

M&A can be a great way to improve efficiencies, accelerate growth and create value. But when they fail to produce the desired result, a common factor is poor communication, including a lack of information during the pre-merger period and a lack of post-merger cooperation and coordination.

And that has to be an opportunity for the Corporate Affairs team.

How do you approach and plan for such events? How do you ensure you are the one helping define the story to be told? What about stakeholder prioritisation, especially when those you want to tell first may not be the same as those you have to? How do you best work with other parts of the firm, and counter parties, and of course the sometimes vast array of expensively assembled advisors – lawyers and bankers especially? And, in what can be long and complex processes, draining at times, how do you maintain morale and stay sane?

We'd love to hear what you think. Get in touch on social media or email [email protected]

This edition of The Little Questions podcast is presented by Andrew Brown, Anthony Silverman and Matt Young.

Apella partner Andrew Brown is a former Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Ageas Insurance. He has more than ten years' experience leading the corporate affairs functions for global firms across a range of regulated and unregulated sectors, developing considerable experience in issues, crisis and change management. Formerly Director of Communications at Drax Group plc and Group Corporate Affairs Director at Regus plc.

Our second guest this time is Apella founder partner Anthony Silverman who specialises in advising global boards and executive teams with complex reputational needs. Recent clients include RBS, UBS, Atlas Merchant Capital, Nomura, Pension Insurance Corporation, FirstRand and Nando's. He is also a former Senior Managing Director at Teneo in London.

Matt Young is an Apella founder partner with 25 years of experience in corporate affairs. He was Corporate Affairs Director at Lloyds Banking Group, part of the senior team which rescued the bank and rebuilt its reputation following the financial crisis. Formerly communications director at Santander UK and board member of the BBA.

Find out more about Apella Advisors at www.apellaadvisors.com and you can get in touch by emailing [email protected]

This podcast is produced by www.thepodcastcoach.co.uk