Mergers and acquisitions are among the more complex processes new CEOs have to learn, whether they’re in the role for the first time or taking over at a new company. Andreas “Andy” W. Mattes has navigated this multiple times in his roles as CEO of Siemens Communications, Diebold, and later of Diebold Nixdorf, and now of the laser technology company Coherent. In this discussion with M&A practice leader Jake Henry, Andy talks about the roller-coaster ride that M&A can be, and the critical M&A skills he had to learn as a CEO, including how to best deal with competing bids and making time to commune with other CEOs.

Jake is the global co-leader of McKinsey’s M&A Practice, which includes mergers, acquisitions, integrations, joint ventures, and divestitures. He previously led our Life Sciences Practice globally, where he guided pharmaceutical and medical-technology company executives on matters of corporate strategy, growth strategy, and operational excellence for more than twenty years.

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CEOs in M&A: Five actions only the chief executive can take

Uncertainty in M&A: Postcards from the new normal

M&A Annual Report: Is the wave finally arriving?

What makes a successful CEO?

The loneliest job? How top CEOs manage dilemmas and vulnerability

CEO excellence: How do leaders assess their own performance?

CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest

The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead From the Inside Out

 

McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedIn

McKinsey Insights on M&A

Mergers and acquisitions are among the more complex processes new CEOs have to learn, whether they&rsquo;re in the role for the first time or taking over at a new company. Andreas &ldquo;Andy&rdquo; W. Mattes has navigated this multiple times in his roles as CEO of Siemens Communications, Diebold, and later of Diebold Nixdorf, and now of the laser technology company Coherent. In this discussion with M&amp;A practice leader <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/jake-henry">Jake Henry</a>, Andy talks about the roller-coaster ride that M&amp;A can be, and the critical M&amp;A skills he had to learn as a CEO, including how to best deal with competing bids and making time to commune with other CEOs.
Jake is the global co-leader of McKinsey&rsquo;s M&amp;A Practice, which includes mergers, acquisitions, integrations, joint ventures, and divestitures. He previously led our Life Sciences Practice globally, where he guided pharmaceutical and medical-technology company executives on matters of corporate strategy, growth strategy, and operational excellence for more than twenty years.
Related insights
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/m-and-a/our-insights/ceos-in-m-and-a-five-actions-only-the-chief-executive-can-take">CEOs in M&amp;A: Five actions only the chief executive can take</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/m-and-a/our-insights/uncertainty-in-m-and-a-postcards-from-the-new-normal">Uncertainty in M&amp;A: Postcards from the new normal</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-makes-a-successful-ceo">M&amp;A Annual Report: Is the wave finally arriving?</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-makes-a-successful-ceo">What makes a successful CEO?</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-asia/the-loneliest-job-how-top-ceos-manage-dilemmas-and-vulnerability">The loneliest job? How top CEOs manage dilemmas and vulnerability</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-asia/ceo-excellence-how-do-leaders-assess-their-own-performance">CEO excellence: How do leaders assess their own performance?</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/ceo-excellence">CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/journey-of-leadership">The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead From the Inside Out</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-corporate-finance/posts/?feedView=all">McKinsey Strategy &amp; Corporate Finance on LinkedIn</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/m-and-a/our-insights">McKinsey Insights on M&amp;A</a>

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The world is moving faster, and as upheaval becomes the norm, vast business opportunities will be within the grasp of the extraordinary few. &nbsp;But it takes bold people and courageous approaches to seize those opportunities and create value.
In each episode of our weekly podcast, we interview the world&rsquo;s highest-performing CEOs, CFOs, innovators, and McKinsey experts and discuss how they build the courage, clarity, conviction, and cohesion that allow their businesses to win by moving faster than the world around them.&nbsp;

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