Agency leadership – a successful sale and exit

22 Oct

Gemma McGrattan, former agency founder and owner talking to entrepreneurs about selling a business, acquisitions, post sale integration and acquisition communication to employees — Gemma McGrattan talking at EntreConf about sale and exit

We recently delivered a talk to a group of exceptionally talented entrepreneurs at EntreConf where we shared insights from our growth journey, scaling, preparation for sale and successful exit, including these key points:

[Acquisition insights]

The sale process is crucial

It's the pitch of your life. Be prepared, have your facts/numbers at your finger tips, be knowledgeable about your sector and future growth inside out.

Marketing is essential

Build and maintain your brand profile. Equally, live your brand from the inside out – it communicates your proposition, reputation and demonstrates your values.

Maintain a well-run operation

Sounds obvious, but meticulous management and thorough preparation are vital for navigating due diligence successfully.

Surround yourself with advisors

Professional services, mentors, M&A experts and people that have been there and done it offer invaluable guidance, insights and new thinking.

Post-sale integration requires planning, communication and action

Excellent acquisition communication to employees is essential. It requires planning from both sides and a thorough post acquisition integration checklist. Actions count and focus on cultural integration are essential for a smooth transition.

As always, it’s in the planning, laser focus and an ability to pivot, react and flex during a successful acquisition and integration as you roller coaster through the ups and downs of the process!

If you’d like to hear more, please get in touch.