The Challenge
Two recruitment technology scale-ups were brought together under new ownership to accelerate growth in a competitive market. Each business had strong products and loyal customers, but very different systems, processes and cultures. They sought to combine their complementary strengths into a single, more powerful proposition.
To achieve this, the organisation needed more than an integration plan. It required a clear operating model to unify teams, eliminate duplication and establish the right accountabilities. At the same time, leaders needed support to step into bigger roles, build confidence with the parent company, and craft a credible growth story that would attract future investment.
What We Did
We took a culture-led approach to integration, combining hard analysis with deep engagement. Interviews, surveys and leadership workshops provided a rounded view of how the companies worked, where overlaps or gaps existed, and what needed to change.
Working closely with the CEO we:
- Mapped the combined operating model, clarifying how the business created value end-to-end and enabling leaders to see the organisation as a whole
- Facilitated sessions to align leadership, surfacing trade-offs openly and building the collective ownership needed to carry decisions through the wider company
- Streamlined and simplified functions, including providing clear guardrails for where to focus effort and helping teams avoid duplication
- Developed a compelling growth narrative, which gave the executive team a unifying story to anchor conversations with employees, investors and the parent company.
The Impact
Successful post-merger integration brought two distinct businesses together as one organisation while retaining talent. The merger preserved the strongest elements of each – combining technical strengths with market reach – to create a more powerful platform for growth.
The new operating model gave leaders clarity and confidence, and the culture-led approach ensured people felt part of the journey, resulting in:
- Record-breaking performance, with bookings and placements hitting all-time highs in the first year after integration
- Sustained employee engagement, with a sense of shared ownership of the new culture
- External recognition, including shortlisting for industry awards