—  The role of a Head of M&A - and Korpdev can help

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A Head of M&A plays a pivotal role in driving corporate growth through acquisitions and divestitures. Their main objective is simple in theory: create value for the company. In practice, this involves identifying the right targets, negotiating deals, and ensuring smooth post-acquisition integration—tasks that require strategy, experience, and considerable bandwidth.

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Strategic responsibility
M&A is not just about deals—it’s about shaping the future of the business. A Head of M&A is responsible for:

• Acquiring new capabilities, expanding the client portfolio, or divesting non-core activities

• Ensuring all transactions align with the company’s broader strategy

• Continuously reviewing the business portfolio and implementing investment plans.

 

End-to-end execution
From sourcing opportunities to integration, the Head of M&A coordinates the full process:

• Direct sourcing remains critical, alongside strategic engagement with investment banks and industry contacts

• Managing internal and external resources, ensuring timely communication, and keeping the process on track

• Overseeing post-acquisition integration—aligning teams, systems, and offerings to preserve and enhance deal value.

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Skills required
The role demands a unique combination of financial acumen, strategic thinking, project management, and negotiation skills. Cultural sensitivity is equally important to integrate new teams successfully. Typically, companies seek individuals with at least 10 years of senior experience—a profile that comes with significant cost, around €120–150k per year.

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The dilemma for SMBs and Scale-Ups
For smaller companies, hiring a full-time Head of M&A is often not feasible. M&A opportunities may be intermittent, and the cost and seniority of the role make it difficult to justify a permanent hire. Yet the need for expert guidance does not disappear. Many companies attempt a “do-it-yourself” approach, which can lead to missed opportunities, slow execution, or failed integrations.

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How Korpdev Can Help
This is where Korpdev comes in. We act as your outsourced M&A function, bringing the expertise of a seasoned Head of M&A without the fixed cost of a full-time hire. Our team can:

• Lead the end-to-end M&A process, from target identification to post-merger integration

• Apply deep experience from both corporate and advisory perspectives, gained across dozens of deals

• Provide strategic guidance to ensure transactions create real value, while allowing your leadership team to focus on running the business

• Serve as a flexible resource, supporting single projects or multiple simultaneous M&A initiatives.

 

With Korpdev, scale-ups and SMBs can access high-level M&A expertise that would otherwise be out of reach, turning complex acquisitions into a strategic lever for growth.

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