Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we bring you candid conversations with Europe’s leading founders, corporate leaders, and investors shaping the future of venture collaboration.

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm sits down with Peter Aksel Villadsen (GN Hearing) and Helle Hee (PwC) to unpack the messy middle of post-merger integration: aligning strategy and governance, protecting talent and culture, and getting the operating model right so the deal value actually shows up. From pre-close planning to the first 100 days, they share what works, what fails, and how to keep the integration machine honest.

This is essential listening for any corporate venturer, founder, or investor navigating M&A.

🎧 Here’s what’s covered

00:00 Opening context / why integrations fail more than they should
03:23 Pre-close prep: value thesis, Day-1 readiness, leadership alignment
06:15 Culture & talent: retaining the A-team, incentives, and communication
09:08 Operating model: decision rights, governance, metrics that matter
12:01 Tech & data integration: sequencing, risk, and “don’t touch yet” zones
16:07 First 100 days: what to lock, what to leave alone, what to measure
19:10 CVC’s role post-deal: sponsor, translator, and blocker remover
23:20 Common failure modes and how to spot them early
26:31 Case lessons & playbook tweaks founders would like to know

E596 | EUCVC Summit 2025: Peter Aksel Villadsen, GN Hearing & Helle Hee, PwC: Integrating acquired companies

EUVC

E596 | EUCVC Summit 2025: Peter Aksel Villadsen, GN Hearing & Helle Hee, PwC: Integrating acquired companies