A complete cultural shift creates optimism and a new sense of identity, belonging and purpose post-merger for a specialist biopharma
leaders aligned successfully post merger
from 'lone wolves' to a collaborative ethos
culture transformation delivered results within weeks
We don’t even talk about the integration anymore, only a few weeks after the work with you, that is how well the culture shift worked.
VP/BU Lead, US Complement Division Alexion-US
A specialist pharmaceutical company took a bold step by acquiring another niche but key player in treating life-threatening blood disorders. This strategic move aimed not just to merge its complement and coagulation business units but also to spark innovation and adapt to a fiercely competitive market.
To navigate this integration, the acquiring company brought in Open Water to provide clarity and facilitate a unified culture, starting with aligning and equipping the leadership team.
To kick off this transformative journey, Open Water hosted two dynamic sessions with the executive leaders—from Thought Leader Liaisons to Institutional Account Managers. Traditionally independent, these leaders initially struggled to collaborate, entrenched as they were in their 'lone wolf' approaches.
The sessions strategically targeted these silos, breaking them down to cultivate a collaborative ethos crucial for forging a new organisational identity.
Open Water steered a Leaders Forum to craft a new cultural framework and reshape team structures across regions. This forum sparked deep discussions, aligning the team on common goals and resolving competing priorities.
The momentum continued with a four-day Plan of Action (POA) conference, where Open Water championed the 'Connect for One Company' journey, significantly enhancing leadership value.
Open Water brought in its partners, The Storytellers (now part of Accenture), who played a pivotal role. They helped capture the team's thinking and narrate the evolving story of the merged entities, crafting a narrative that not only highlighted the values and goals of the Complement and Coagulation units but also galvanised a shared sense of purpose, belonging, and identity.
The goal was for leaders to leave the four-day conference with a narrative designed to empower all 250 people to feel invested in creating a story together that reflected trust, cohesion, and clarity.
This transformation underscored the urgent need for clear communication and collective effort to seamlessly integrate the two businesses.
Open Water worked with the leaders to identify challenges and impactful solutions, aligning the team behind a common goal.
This alignment was vital in sculpting a vision that resonated across the organisation and strengthened internal cohesion.
Open Water’s culture transformation model and approach helped the merged businesses to co-create a new sense of purpose, self-belief, and optimism.
As they continue as One Alexion, they now have the framework, behaviours, and mindsets needed to nurture a collaborative and innovative environment that will propel them towards achieving their strategic and commercial goals.
"We took a loose federation of colleagues—at a fragile moment in time—and helped them feel a sense of belonging. It will have an impact on them personally, and it will accelerate our progress as a business unit.
We don’t even talk about the integration anymore; only a few weeks after the work with you, that is how well the culture shift worked."
John P. Kennedy
VP/BU Lead, US Complement Division, Alexion-US
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A complete cultural shift creates optimism and a new sense of identity, belonging and purpose post-merger for a specialist biopharma
leaders aligned successfully post merger
from 'lone wolves' to a collaborative ethos
culture transformation delivered results within weeks
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