Mergers represent some of the most complex challenges organisations face. Whether combining two charities to increase impact, pool resources, or share knowledge and expertise, success depends on more than just operational integration. We help values-drive clients to create one unified brand – inspiring proud ownership and signalling a new beginning. Done well, a merger brand can amplify your collective strengths. Done poorly, it can fracture teams and confuse stakeholders for years to come.
Mergers
Our experiences in helping clients to navigate mergers includes:
Stakeholder Research & Engagement
Mergers only succeed when people feel heard. We'll conduct in-depth research with staff, trustees, beneficiaries, donors, patients, students – whoever matters to your organisation – to understand hopes, fears and priorities. Through workshops, interviews and surveys, we'll identify common ground and potential friction points before they become problems.
Brand Architecture & Naming
Should you adopt one of the existing names? Create a completely new identity? Or use an endorsed model where both names co-exist? We'll help you navigate these foundational decisions, exploring options, testing them with stakeholders, and recommending the strategy that best serves your strategic goals.
Cultural Integration
Mergers aren't just about systems and processes – they're about people. We'll help you understand the cultures of both organisations, identify where values align (and where they don't), and develop brand messaging and behaviours that create a unified culture while respecting what made each organisation special.
Transition Planning
Timing is everything in a merger. We'll develop detailed transition plans that sequence the rollout of your new brand – from internal launch to public announcement, from website migration to physical signage. We'll help you decide what changes immediately, what can be phased over time, and how to minimise confusion.
Positioning & Messaging
A merger is an opportunity to reset how the world sees you. We'll help you define a clear, differentiated position for the new organisation – one that leverages the combined strengths of both partners while distancing yourself from any weaknesses. We'll develop messaging that articulates why you've merged, what's changing, and what exciting opportunities lie ahead.
Visual Identity Design
The new organisation needs a visual identity that everyone can be proud of – one that doesn't privilege one partner over another (unless you want or need it to). We'll create a distinctive new identity that signals fresh beginnings while carefully managing any equity in existing brands that's worth preserving.
Change Management Support
Even the best-planned mergers face resistance. We'll work alongside your leadership team to anticipate objections, address concerns, and build enthusiasm for the new brand. From internal communications templates to FAQs, from leadership briefings to staff workshops – we'll equip you to lead change with confidence.
Brand Guidelines & Toolkits
Once the new brand launches, everyone needs to use it consistently. We'll create comprehensive guidelines that protect your investment, along with templates and toolkits that make it easy for teams across the new organisation to create on-brand communications from day one.