The powerful role of strategic communication plays in a successful M&A deal

Written in collaboration with Gladius Communications

M&A is ready for a comeback in 2025. After a slow start to 2024’s transactions — but a strong showing for transaction size — dealmakers are feeling bullish about the year ahead, according to KPMG. 

• More than 50% of dealmakers expect more corporate and private transactions year-over-year.
• Nearly 75% believe 2026 will be even more active still.

The big picture: M&A may be a strategic growth lever, but 70%–90% of all deals fail to reach their goals post-close, according to Harvard Business Review. The most common issue: lack of communication. In the early stages of a transaction, knowable risks get overlooked. And by the time teams hit integration, misaligned expectations and missing context mean culture clashes and breakdowns in employee trust.

• A strong communication strategy can help organizations safeguard that investment. 

Yes, but: Many executives moving through their first or first few transactions don’t feel the impact of communication until they’ve watched thoughtful acquisitions turn into failed integrations — despite addressing every financial and legal risk. Just as true, many communicators may not fully understand the role they can play in the process or have the buy-in to be brought in early enough to take a smart deal’s potential to a whole new level. 

What we’re seeing more and more:

• Communicators are driving business strategy. They are the trusted advisors who ensure a business’ activities are aligned with its objectives and purpose — and that all teams see it, understand it, and stay in step with their role in realizing it. 
• Budgets are being more fairly allocated. M&A transactions often come with a separate budget included in the cost of the deal. Communicators may not need to “borrow” from their run-rate budgets to allocate time and offer meaningful contributions to the success of these projects.
• Impact is becoming easier to measure. The M&A process has a clearer “before and after” than most operations. The effectiveness and benefits of strategic communication can be even more apparent in the throes of a transaction and its post-close integration than in day-to-day activities.

Whether you are a corporate development executive approaching a transaction or a communicator looking to get involved in deals, we want to be your partner in keeping communicators embedded at the highest levels of decision-making and to magnify the growth your organization can see. 

Go deeper: Download our M&A quick-start guide