Hiring Trends

By Ringside Talent

March 3, 2025

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) don’t just bring operational and financial changes—they also bring cultural shifts that can define the success or failure of the integration. CIOs play a critical role in ensuring that technology facilitates a smooth transition, fosters collaboration, and drives a unified company culture.

As part of our Mergers & Acquisitions series, last week we explored cash flow and capital allocation, focusing on how Finance leaders ensure financial stability post-merger. This week, we shift our focus to IT, examining how CIOs lead change management efforts and align technology strategies with business goals.

When IT and Finance collaborate on change management, businesses can accelerate adoption, minimize disruptions, and maintain operational efficiency—all while ensuring employee engagement and cultural alignment.

Why Change Management is Critical in M&A

According to a McKinsey report,  nearly 70% of M&A deals fail to deliver expected value due to poor cultural integration and change management. Technology can either be an enabler or a barrier in this process, depending on how it is leveraged.

Key challenges in post-merger change management include:

  • Resistance to new processes and systems from employees.
  • Lack of clear communication around IT and business transformations.
  • Disruptions in productivity due to system changes and integration challenges.
  • Misalignment of technology with corporate culture and employee expectations.

CIOs must proactively address these challenges, ensuring that IT strategies support cultural integration and business objectives.

Key Focus Areas for CIOs in Change Management

  1. Aligning IT & Business Leadership on Change Strategy

Successful change management starts with leadership alignment. CIOs must:

  • Work with Finance and HR to develop a unified change management strategy.
  • Ensure IT investments support business transformation goals and cultural integration.
  • Facilitate ongoing executive communication to reinforce a shared vision for the post-merger organization.

  1. Driving Employee Adoption Through Technology

Resistance to change is one of the biggest obstacles in M&A. To improve adoption, IT leaders should:

  • Implement user-friendly digital workplace tools that enhance collaboration.
  • Provide role-based training programs to ease the transition to new systems.
  • Utilize AI-driven analytics to track user adoption and adjust strategies as needed.

  1. Maintaining Business Continuity & Operational Efficiency

Minimizing disruptions is essential during IT system transitions. CIOs must:

  • Develop phased technology rollouts to reduce workflow interruptions.
  • Establish IT support frameworks to assist employees during the transition.
  • Work with Finance to ensure that change-related costs align with budget forecasts.

  1. IT & Finance Collaboration on Change Costs & ROI

Change management isn’t just about systems—it’s about ensuring the financial impact is controlled. CIOs and Finance leaders should:

  • Align on budgeting for IT upgrades, training, and support costs.
  • Define clear KPIs to measure the ROI of change management initiatives.
  • Leverage automation and AI to reduce inefficiencies and drive cost savings.

Collaboration Between IT and Finance: Enabling a Smooth Transition

Change management in M&A requires a cross-functional approach. When CIOs and CFOs work together, they can:

  • Ensure technology investments align with financial priorities and cultural goals.
  • Mitigate resistance to change by aligning IT and business incentives.
  • Drive faster adoption by integrating user-friendly digital solutions.

How Ringside Talent Can Help

At Ringside Talent, we specialize in connecting businesses with IT and Finance professionals who have deep expertise in M&A change management. Whether you need CIOs, IT transformation specialists, financial change analysts, or digital adoption experts, we help you build a cross-functional team to ensure a successful transition.

Looking Ahead

This Thursday, we’ll explore “Post-Merger Performance Metrics: Finance’s Role”, where Finance leaders discuss how to track business performance, measure synergies, and ensure financial health post-merger. Stay tuned as we continue uncovering how IT and Finance leaders work together to drive M&A success!

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