logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2025
33m 48s

258. Andy Mattes on the challenges of dr...

McKinsey & Company
About this episode

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.

Related insights

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

Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/

See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Up next
Nov 14
277. The new boardroom dynamic: More conversations, transparency, and trust
In this episode of Inside the Strategy Room, we discuss how the board’s relationship with management is evolving in an era of heightened uncertainty and rapid change. We are joined by board directors Susan Chapman-Hughes and Lan Kang, as well as McKinsey’s Board Services leader F ... Show More
38m 45s
Nov 6
276. From strategy to performance: Building a new operating model for a new world
To successfully execute a strategy, organizations must make deliberate choices about their operating model. In this episode, Julie Goran and Dickie Steele, both partners based in New York, discuss the key elements that comprise an operating model and how leaders can design and im ... Show More
34m 29s
Oct 31
275. M&A update: Dealmaking is higher, despite volatility
After several years of slowed activity, mergers and acquisitions picked up in the first half of 2025, as disciplined dealmakers reentered the market despite continued uncertainty. In this episode, three McKinsey M&A experts share their recent analysis of global dealmaking, explor ... Show More
46m 44s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
Leading from the inside-out: Why CEOs must make time for self-reflection
The greatest CEOs are necessarily driven, decisive, and confident. But McKinsey senior partner Ramesh Srinivasan, senior partner emeritus Hans-Werner Kaas, and coauthors of their new book, The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Can Learn to Lead from the Inside Out, say CEOs must we ... Show More
17m 41s
Aug 2024
Brian Halligan: Building HubSpot into a Multi-Billion Dollar Company
From Cambridge startup to NYSE heavyweight, HubSpot co-founder Brian Halligan reveals the sophisticated frameworks behind scaling a $30B enterprise. Now a Sequoia Capital Senior Advisor, Halligan shares rare insights into the nuanced decisions that separate exceptional companies ... Show More
1h 2m
Sep 2024
Up Close with Our CEO
What are today’s big business challenges and why is it a great time to be a CEO? Christoph Schweizer talks about what he has learned in his three years at the helm.    Hear Christoph’s insights on how CEOs navigate difficult decisions, including his own "moment of truth" when he ... Show More
19m 30s
Dec 2024
166-The Leadership Crisis CEOs Don’t See Coming with Dave Ulrich
<p>Grab your FREE copy of “10 Foolproof Ways New CEOs Establish Authority From Day One” and start leading with confidence today!</p> <p>👉 Download Now - <a href='https://bit.ly/10-fullproof-ceo-strategies'>https://bit.ly/10-fullproof-ceo-strategies</a></p> <p>------------------- ... Show More
45m 17s
Jun 2025
Leadership Insights That Endure Audiobook
CEOs and aspiring executives face a constant storm of disruption—AI revolutions, workforce shifts, geopolitical tension, and high-stakes deals. But when the pressure rises, where do leaders turn for clarity and perspective?Leadership Insights That Endure offers a rare window into ... Show More
50m 47s
Sep 2024
How to Execute Successful M&A as a CEO
Sanjay Poonen, CEO & President of Cohesity   M&A isn't just about signing a deal and popping the champagne. Every CEO knows the entire process is a minefield of cultural clashes, integration headaches, and occasional unexpected challenges that could blow up your strategy. But whi ... Show More
50m 37s
Jan 2015
20 VC 005: Be The Best CEO with Kent Godfrey
<p>In episode 5 of The Twenty Minute VC, we are joined by Kent Godfrey, General Partner at Pond Ventures. Prior to entering into the VC industry Kent was Chairman and CEO of Andromedia before merging it with MacroMedia. Kent was also CEO of Frictionless Commerce concluding with t ... Show More
16m 56s
Jan 2025
521: Ex-Accenture Global CEO on Transformation: Human-Powered Leadership in a Disrupted World
<p dir="ltr">Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 521, an interview with the author of <em>Essential: How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts are Creating a New Human Powered Leadership,</em> Dr. Christie Smith.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">In this episode, C ... Show More
52m 32s
Oct 9
What sets the world’s best leaders apart
Most leaders set out to be the best—but few make that Mount Everest–like ascent successfully. What do the world’s most iconic CEOs do differently? McKinsey Senior Partners Carolyn Dewar, Kurt Strovink, Scott Keller, and Vik Malhotra break it down in their new book A CEO for All S ... Show More
9m 3s
Sep 29
233 | I Don't Feel Like a Real CEO
<p dir="ltr">Do you ever catch yourself saying, "I just make jewelry on the side"? Or maybe you've hit incredible milestones (six figures, sold-out launches) yet deep down, you still feel like an imposter? You're not alone, and you're not behind. In this episode of Momentum Monda ... Show More
6m 50s