Crisis Communication and Stakeholder Alignment Following an Acquisition

Supported a multinational organization during a sensitive situation following the acquisition of a company in Shanghai.

Shortly after the acquisition, concerns emerged around how the business was being operated locally. Misalignment between local leadership actions and the expectations of the acquiring organization created uncertainty and the risk of conflicting narratives.

Given the local context, there was a real risk that the situation could escalate into media exposure or draw attention from local government entities, increasing both reputational and operational risk.

The situation required immediate, carefully coordinated communication under tight timelines.

The work focused on stabilizing communication and ensuring alignment across all stakeholders.
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The work forcused on:

• developing clear internal and external statements under time pressure
• aligning messaging across headquarters, local teams, and key stakeholders
• monitoring media and public response in real time
• advising on communication decisions as the situation evolved

Stakeholders included media, employees, and local government entities, where missteps could have led to escalation or formal scrutiny.

This resulted in:

• consistent and controlled communication throughout the situation
• no escalation into local media coverage
• protection of the organization’s reputation during a highly sensitive period
• avoidance of potential involvement from local authorities