As employees, executives and board members, we find change both challenging and exciting, which is, after all, only human. In a merger setting, this takes on even greater meaning as the building of new relationships out of old bonds takes time and requires trust. One known catalyst for smoothing the process is calm, confident, visible leadership. In this regard, the new-look NACD is fortunate.

NACD is acquiring Directorship, and people originally involved with each organization are getting to know each other.  Ken Daly, our CEO, and Jeff Cunningham, chairman, CEO and editorial director of Directorship, characterize our merger as bringing together two different organizations that share one common belief: to make good governance a feature of the boardroom landscape.

The benefits of merging our two organizations are clear: We can now offer you a broader and deeper curriculum, a wider range of peer exchange opportunities, and a continued role for the award winning NACD Directorship magazine, a much-valued member benefit.
But any director or executive who has lived through M or A knows that it can take patience and understanding to forge a new entity and make sure rewards are reaped by customers, shareowners and employees.

Of course, I and my colleagues, old and new, will be supported in our new venture by our own board members. NACD Director Karen Hastie Williams is a member of the Continental Airlines board. She will take part in course NACD’s Director Professionalism® course in Laguna Beach, CA, on August 24 and 25, to talk about culture and leadership as the airline prepares to merge with United. NACD Director Rich Koppes, a member of the Valeant board, also will be there. Valeant is proposing to merge with Biovail later this year.

If you have any stories that illustrate ways in which the board and management can maximize the chances of a productive merger, please do share them—add a comment on this blog post.

As Daimler and Chrysler and Turner and Time Warner will tell you, the road ahead can be bumpy—and board members with skills and experience to help the new-look C-suite deliver successful integration will always be in high demand.

Karen H. Williams

Rich Koppes

Tags: Biovail, board directors, board education, corporate director education, corporate directors, Corporate Governance, corporate strategy, Director Professionalism, Directorship, Karen Hastie Williams, merger, mergers, NACD, NACD blog, NACD Directorship, Rich Koppes, tone at the top, Valeant